It seems safe to say that Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce isn’t exactly on board with the idea of having Aidan O’Connell as the team’s starting quarterback through 2024.
During a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast, Pierce said the quarterback position is something the Raiders need to address this offseason. “The wild card is the quarterback. We have to execute our plan,” Pierce said. “Everyone has a price. There is always a price. … It may stir up some doubt and curiosity until you are ready to take that step. And if that wasn’t by design? Then you have to go through free agency.”
Pierce to a simply doesn’t see O’Connell as the starter next season. At least if Las Vegas expects an uphill battle.That said, Pierce later gives O’Connell some props. “Let’s say worst case, we’ll get Aiden O’Connell, we’ve won five games with him,” Pearce said. “What if we gave this kid a full offseason, the same way we give coaches the opportunity to grow and learn? Because he played the last five games.
He played better than most players drafted in the first, second and third rounds.Pierce praised O’Connell, but he called it a “worst-case scenario”. That means Pierce clearly envisions a completely different player under center for the Raiders in Week 1. But it’s true. O’Connell has played very well over the past four games, totaling eight touchdowns and zero interceptions.
In 11 games and 10 total starts in 2023, O’Connell threw for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven picks while completing 62.1 percent of his passes and posting an 83.9 passer rating.O’Connell replaced Jimmy Garoppolo midway through the season. Antonio Pierce and the Raiders will have a variety of options at quarterback in the coming weeks and months, but it remains to be seen if they can find someone interesting enough to move on from O’Connell.
