While the Raiders left the draft without acquiring a quarterback, they seriously considered rookie QBs up until the last minute. Their prior offseason moves positioned them well for various draft outcomes.
According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, signing Gardner Minshew served as “insurance” in case they couldn’t secure a top QB prospect in the draft. Knowing that free agency precedes the draft by a few months, the Raiders brought Minshew on board, understanding he could either serve as a placeholder for a first-round QB or potentially be their starter in 2024.
Ultimately, it turned out to be the latter. Bonsignore reports that while the Raiders were eager to trade up in the draft, their focus was on the projected top-three picks: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye. The Bears, Commanders, and Patriots, however, were not willing to trade their picks, and the Raiders felt picking a second-tier QB at No. 13 would be a reach.
In any case, the Raiders didn’t even get the chance to consider a reach, as Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, and Bo Nix were all drafted before their turn. Penix was particularly unpredictable. Bonsignore mentions that it’s unclear how the front office would have reacted if the Washington QB was available at No. 13, but they never considered moving up to select him.
With no rookie QB added to the roster, the Raiders will rely on either Minshew or Aidan O’Connell. Minshew’s two-year contract includes $15 million guaranteed out of a total $25 million. This amount, while high for a backup, doesn’t preclude the Raiders from exploring other options. O’Connell, who started towards the end of the 2023 season, recorded a passer rating of 83.9 with a 12:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
