The NFL’s most crucial position is quarterback. No matter how excellent the rest of the squad is, a team can only go so far if the quarterback does not deliver. For the Las Vegas Raiders, the starting quarterback position will be decided between second-year player Aidan O’Connell and veteran Gardner Minshew.
While the rivalry on the field will undoubtedly be strong, the two have a lot of respect for each other, with O’Connell even mentioning certain similarities in their experiences, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.
“Our stories are kind of both underdog stories,” O’Connell stated on Tuesday, “and having to work to get to the point where we’re at.”
Both O’Connell and Minshew were selected in the latter rounds of the draft, with O’Connell in the fourth round and Minshew in the sixth. Both began their careers as backups, but were propelled into starting roles as rookies.
They both clearly want to win this challenge and become the Raiders’ starting quarterback, but Minshew made it apparent that they are both competitors who want to defeat each other at their best.
“As a true competitor, you want to outperform them, not the other way around. So, if I’m beating him out, it just means I’m lifting the bar even higher. … If he is pushing me and completing every pass, I need to figure out how to improve.
“He’s a team man, and so am I. We both want to win. We both want to improve. So, there isn’t much of a conflict of interest there.
O’Connell would further remark that he is feeling a lot more comfortable in his second season, despite having to learn a new offence:
“It is a change because it’s a new offence, so it’s a little bit like starting over,” O’Connell stated. “But, at the same time, it’s my second year in the NFL. I believe that all of the extra newbie tasks that I no longer have to complete are a significant relief. Definitely feeling more at ease… It’s definitely a competition, so I try to put my best foot forward every day.
This will be a serious fight between O’Connell and Minshew as the Raiders hunt for the guy who can lead them back to the playoffs in 2024. They will compete throughout training camp, but regardless of who wins, their respect will remain intact.
Aidan O’Connell switches jersey numbers out of respect for former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
O’Connell’s jersey number will be different this season as well. As a rookie, O’Connell wore jersey number 4, but in 2024, he will wear number 12, and he explained why.
O’Connell revealed that he did not choose the number, but it was assigned to him. When the offseason arrived, he believed it was insulting to former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who holds the franchise record for throwing yards and touchdowns.
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