Following Aidan O’Connell’s injury in the preseason finale, the Las Vegas Raiders panicked and felt compelled to make a regrettable trade.
The Raiders just made their boldest gamble yet, rolling the dice on Kenny Pickett. On paper, the move makes sense for Las Vegas. O’Connell’s wrist injury left the quarterback room paper-thin behind Geno Smith, and for the price of a 2026 fifth-rounder, Vegas bought themselves a former first-round pick with 25 NFL starts under his belt. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the move is less about insurance and more about desperation.
What are the Raiders getting in Kenny Pickett?
Pickett has never lived up to his draft pedigree. He wasn’t a long-term solution in Pittsburgh, and Cleveland hardly gave him a chance before shipping him off. His record as a starter (15–10) may seem respectable, but it conceals a troubling reality: an inconsistent arm, conservative play, and a significant inability to elevate the offense. If Smith misses time, are the Raiders truly prepared to entrust the high-risk AFC West offense to a quarterback known for his “safe” playing style?
There’s another angle—maybe Las Vegas sees what Pittsburgh and Cleveland didn’t. Maybe Pete Carroll and his staff believe Pickett was more a victim of the scheme (hello, Matt Canada) than his shortcomings. At 26, he still has the potential to revive his career, and the Raiders can benefit from allowing him to grow under the guidance of a seasoned starter.
Let’s be honest: the Raiders didn’t go after a star player. They didn’t discover a hidden gem, either. Instead, they chose a quarterback that other teams were ready to move on from—and now they’re hoping that the allure of Vegas can mask his shortcomings.
Kenny Pickett in Silver & Black is the definition of a gamble. The only question left is whether the house wins—or Raider Nation gets burned.
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*Top Photo: Getty Images