Over the past two seasons, Aidan O’Connell has been a reliable quarterback option for the Las Vegas Raiders.
He stepped in during the latter half of his rookie season, delivering strong performances as the Raiders won five of their last nine games. Notably, he avoided turnovers in the final four contests while throwing for eight touchdowns.
Despite his solid play, the Raiders sought an upgrade at quarterback. They signed Gardner Minshew II, but he failed to ignite the offense as expected. Even though O’Connell outperformed Minshew, the team remained intent on improving the position. This led to their decision to trade for Geno Smith on Friday evening.
Smith is anticipated to be the starting quarterback in 2025 under head coach Pete Carroll, marking a reunion after a year apart. While many expected the Raiders to draft a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, acquiring Smith has not altered those plans.
If Smith assumes the starting role and the Raiders select a young quarterback to develop, O’Connell’s future with the team becomes uncertain./cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73769218/2187917585.0.jpg)
With no insider knowledge and merely analyzing the situation, it appears O’Connell’s time in Las Vegas may be limited. Teams can dress three quarterbacks on gamedays, with one designated as the emergency option. The Raiders would likely start Smith, keep a backup active, and place O’Connell in the emergency role.
Would O’Connell accept that? He has shown he is capable of starting in the NFL, so he may not be content spending Sundays on the sidelines wearing a headset and holding a tablet.
Alternatively, the Raiders could retain O’Connell as the backup while giving their rookie quarterback a redshirt year in the emergency role. The team still sees potential in O’Connell and values his development.
However, drafting a quarterback this year raises concerns about his long-term future with the team. If the Raiders commit to Smith with a long-term contract, there may not be space for O’Connell in the quarterback room.
To secure his place, O’Connell will need to prove to the coaching staff and organization that he can develop into the quarterback they believe he can be.