Training camp is almost here for the Las Vegas Raiders, and the quarterback picture has already gotten crowded in a hurry.
The big move was obvious: the Raiders used the No. 1 overall pick on Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana, a sign that the franchise is building toward something new. Mendoza is expected to get on the field at some point this season, but the Week 1 job belongs to veteran Kirk Cousins.
That leaves Aidan O'Connell in an uncomfortable spot.
O'Connell has shown enough to keep the conversation alive. As a rookie, he started 10 games, went 5-5, and threw 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions. For a first-year quarterback, that’s a solid foundation, and it’s easy to see why he’s still viewed by some as a player with starter-level traits.
He entered the league in that 2023 quarterback class alongside Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, and Anthony Richardson, and he was always seen as more than just a fill-in option. The appeal was clear then, and it still is now: O'Connell has the look of a quarterback who could start full time for somebody.
The problem is where he sits right now. If the Raiders keep three quarterbacks, O'Connell would likely be third on the depth chart in a contract year.
That would make him the emergency quarterback on game days, but effectively inactive every week. It’s not hard to see why that setup could push things toward a trade.
A team like the Cleveland Browns could make sense if Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders don’t impress in camp. The Carolina Panthers would also be a possibility if Kenny Pickett struggles badly this preseason and they need help behind Bryce Young.
For now, though, O'Connell is stuck in a difficult place. He’s had his ups and downs, but the Raiders’ quarterback room has changed around him, and his path in Las Vegas is no longer clear.
Still, Klint Kubiak and Cousins have both spoken highly of him. That kind of praise matters, especially for a quarterback trying to prove he can help somewhere. He’s been described as a good teammate, a hard worker, and a player who has kept improving through multiple offensive coordinators and head coaches.
Whether it happens with the Raiders or somewhere else, O'Connell still looks like a quarterback who will get another shot.
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