Raiders QBs O'Connell, Minshew Validate a Possible Draft Strategy

The Las Vegas Raiders might take a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft. When and where they should is up for debate, but they need not look far for a possible answer.

The Las Vegas Raiders are continuously tied to Michael Penix Jr. in the most recent mock drafts.

They hold the No. 13 pick in the upcoming draft. The Raiders need help on the right side of the offensive line and also need an upgrade at cornerback.

The Raiders have two starting quarterbacks on their roster.

Aidan O'Connell took the helm last season in November. He completed 213 of 343 passing attempts for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns. O'Connell received a 65.9 player grade from Pro Football Focus.

O'Connell was ranked as the 28th quarterback last season in PFF's quarterback rankings. He only started 10 games, posting a 5-5 record.

This offseason, the Raiders signed O'Connell's competition -- Gardner Minshew II. Minshew briefly played in Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Minshew stepped in as the starter for the Colts last season and performed well. He had the Colts one game away from the playoffs.

Minshew threw for 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns in the 2023 season.

O'Connell was a fourth-round selection, and Minshew was a sixth round pick. O'Connell and Minshew were both thrown into the fire as rookies. O'Connell had cleanup duty for a franchise wobbled mid-season. Minshew was forced to play Week 1 for the Jaguars when Nick Foles went down.

Both quarterbacks have been solid NFL starters for a fourth- and sixth-round pick.

It again proves that an NFL starting quarterback can be found anywhere in the draft -- e.g., current NFC champion Brock Purdy.

If the Raiders feel that Penix at No. 13 is too risky, a good value might be in a second or third-round quarterback.

South Carolina's Spencer Rattler could be a solid option. Our Ezekiel Trezevant IV wrote about Rattler's potential as a dark horse who could fit nicely into the Raiders' draft plan.

"The Raiders can cross multiple positions of need off their checklist with one or two quality moves in the draft," Trezevant wrote. "Trading back and drafting Rattler or another quality option could help them immensely."

NFL analyst Greg Cosell liked Rattler in his report.

"For Rattler to develop into a quality starting quarterback, he would need to go to a team that focuses predominantly on his pocket traits and works to enhance them in all areas to make him a higher-level pocket quarterback," Cosell wrote. "That includes all the elements that go with that: timing, rhythm, progression reading, precise ball placement."

The Raiders have an experienced offensive line and talented options at receiver.

Sports writer Rick Gosselin discussed in an article earlier this month what he likes about a quarterback prospect. He found a correlation between pass attempts and chances at success -- the potential golden number being 1,300 attempts.

Rattler's number of attempts during his college career? 1,313.

If the Raiders want to spend a lower risk pick and get a signal caller who has potential -- they might consider Rattler. He wouldn't be thrown into the fire right away. Unlike O'Connell and Minshew, Rattler could sit and learn.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr and never miss another breaking news story again.

Please let us know your thoughts when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.