Continuity has largely been one of the biggest issues with Las Vegas Raiders football. Despite offseason conjecture, Aidan O’Connell survived those rumors, which provides some semblance of stability.
Regardless of your feelings regarding Derek Carr, the former starting quarterback for the Silver and Black provided a measure of dependability. Ever since the regime spearheaded by Josh McDaniels jettisoned Carr with no plan in place, the Raiders have had a carousel at the position. You could argue that the last two seasons have been a disaster and unfortunately, it didn’t seem like there was a solution. However, once Pete Carroll and John Spytek came onboard, a solution was acquired in the form of Geno Smith.
The jury is still out on Smith and rightfully so, but where does that leave O’Connell? The hearsay surrounding No. 12 never made sense. Why would the Raiders get rid of the second-best quarterback on the roster? As we’ve seen before, injuries can derail hope for a team on any given Sunday.
O’Connell has earned the right to compete for playing time and if nothing else, the chance to continue developing under this new coaching staff. Backup quarterback is often the most overlooked position on a team, you don’t need one until you actually do. It’s a thankless gig.
Whether you want to admit it or not, AOC has steadily improved each season. Look, he is what he is at this point, you can’t coach speed or mobility. Still, he’s shown that he’s ready at a moment’s notice and when needed, will command the huddle. There’s a reason there was interest from other NFL teams for his services. Now heading into the 2025 campaign, the Raiders have in their midst the 12th-best backup quarterback. That’s according to Sports Illustrated and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if O’Connell does indeed improve under Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly along with quarterbacks coach Greg Olson.
You could do a lot worse than Aidan O’Connell.
*Top Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images