The Athletic thinks the Raiders could move the quarterback on draft weekend
After the Las Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith and then signed Smith to a two-year contract extension, Aidan O’Connell’s future with the Raiders is unclear.
O’Connell has started 17 games during his two seasons in Las Vegas but won’t be the starter moving forward and is only under contract through 2026, meaning he doesn’t hold much future value for the Silver and Black. Unless the Raiders plan to keep him around as Smith’s backup over the next two seasons, it would make sense for the club to try and get something for the 2023 fourth-round pick.
While discussing if Las Vegas will take a quarterback during the 2025 NFL Draft, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur mentioned trading O’Connell as a possibility.
“Still, bringing in a young quarterback to learn behind Smith makes sense (and we think the Raiders might trade Aidan O’Connell on draft weekend),” Tafur wrote on April 11. “New minority owner Tom Brady likes the idea of rookie quarterbacks sitting and soaking it all in, and there are some interesting options even in what is a down year in the draft for QBs.”
While working under the assumption that Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart goes on night one, Tafur floated the idea of drafting Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Louisville’s Tyler Shough and Ohio State’s Will Howard in rounds two or three. If that happens, O’Connell getting dealt on Saturday of draft weekend for a Day 3 pick would make a lot of sense.
In that scenario, the Raiders would have an immediate backup and potential long-term starting quarterback with the rookie, making the position group tight and possibly squeezing O’Connell out. So, picking up another draft pick to address other needs would be enticing.
As it stands, Las Vegas has Smith, O’Connell and Bradley Carter in the quarterback room and nine draft picks, including six Day 3 selections. Whether or not that changes at the end of the month remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see O’Connell play for another team next season.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Jahdae Barron or Will Johnson: If Las Vegas goes with a cornerback in round one, who would you prefer; the Texas product or the former Wolverine?
- Why Ashton Jeanty is a perfect fit: “For a Raiders team that produced the 32nd-ranked (dead last) ground game in the league in 2024, a bona fide workhorse halfback is a must,” Silver and Black Pride’s Ray Aspuria argues. “With his vision, balance, speed, and power, Jeanty can be the face of the Raiders’ rushing resurgence.”
- Derek Carr’s season in jeopardy: the Raiders’ all-time passing leader has a shoulder injury that “threatens his availability for this season,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That could impact the Raiders’ draft plans if the Saints are looking for a quarterback.
- How Pete Carroll built the Seahawks: “It took [Carroll] and first-time general manager John Schneider just four years to take a 5-11 franchise with no Pro Bowlers and turn it into a Super Bowl winner,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Adam Hill wrote. “They achieved it largely through the draft and a constant churning of the roster in an effort to find players who fit the culture Carroll was trying to build.”