The Las Vegas Raiders have some decisions to make about their roster.
They have the No. 13 pick, and while some think they could pursue a new quarterback with that selection, most of the top guys might already be gone by then.
That puts Gardner Minshew in a position to, at least, compete to be the starter.
Notably, he recently admitted that the Raiders were always his first choice in free agency.
Talking to new teammate Maxx Crosby on his podcast, the former Jacksonville Jaguars star revealed that it was actually an easy choice for him, and it didn’t take long before they got the deal done (via Around the NFL):
“It was my first option,” Minshew said. “When we were stacking it up, I think I was their first option. As soon as free agency started, we made the call and that was it. Couldn’t have been easier. I couldn’t have been more excited.”
Gardner Minshew tells Maxx Crosby he always considered Las Vegas “first option”: “I feel like Raiders have been in my path”https://t.co/foy0frHAKF pic.twitter.com/rf2EDC97vu
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 25, 2024
The Raiders gave him a very lucrative two-year, $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed, so it was pretty much a no-brainer for him.
He’s considered to be the frontrunner to start for them.
Last season, he got his first Pro-Bowl nod after stepping up for the injured Anthony Richardson with the Indianapolis Colts, logging a 7-6 record, 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine picks.
As of now, his only competition is second-year pro Aidan O’Connell.
The fourth-round pick replaced Jimmy Garoppolo for the last ten games of the season, completing 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 scores, and seven interceptions, leading the team to a 5-5 record.
Needless to say, neither of them might be a long-term solution at the quarterback position.
But, for now, the Raiders could’ve done a whole lot worse than to give him an opportunity, given his track record and recent performances.
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Insider Believes 1 Top QB Prospect Will Be Drafted By Raiders