Analyst believes surprising Raider could be a cut candidate

While very little good came from the quarterback instability that has defined the Las Vegas Raiders over the past couple of seasons, no player took advantage of the situation more than Aidan O’Connell.

A fourth-round draft pick in 2023, O’Connell has already played 17 games with the Raiders due to injury or ineffectiveness. He has rarely been the reason why the Raiders have lost as many games as they have, but his 7-10 record suggests victories are not entirely on him, either. After failing to beat out Gardner Minshew last offseason and the Raiders trading for Geno Smith in March, O’Connell’s chances of consistent playing time dwindled even further.

It has gotten to the point where one analyst is not entirely convinced O’Connell is on the Raiders at all this coming season.

Is O’Connell actually on the chopping block during training camp?

According to Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay, O’Connell is one veteran player who could be cut this offseason.

“O’Connell is expendable despite showing some real potential as a rookie in 2023. He was elevated above Jimmy Garoppolo by then-interim head coach Antonio Pierce and wound up making 10 starts that season, going a decent 5-5 in those contests while completing 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions,” Kay wrote.

“However, it was clear the 26-year-old wasn’t a long-term answer last year after he failed to beat out Gardner Minshew II for the QB1 role in training camp. While O’Connell did eventually take back over for the injured and ineffective starter, he went just 2-5 in his seven starts and failed to spark the team’s slumping offense.”

On the surface, it makes no sense for the Raiders to do what Kay is suggesting.

Backup quarterbacks have become increasingly important in the modern NFL, and proven commodities like O’Connell in that spot are rare. Sure, O’Connell has his flaws as a passer, but being the backup reduces the pressure to perform at a high level. There is value in the ‘game manager’ type of quarterback, and the third-year Purdue product has done a good job in that role.

However, Kay believes the quarterback depth chart could be upset with a strong training camp from sixth-round rookie Cam Miller.

“Miller has far more upside at this stage of his career,” Kay continued. “While Smith isn’t a major risk to miss time—he’s been sidelined for just two games since emerging as a starter for the Seahawks in 2022—the team would be better off getting the North Dakota State product some reps in his absence and seeing if he has potential over slogging through a lost campaign with O’Connell at the reins.”

O’Connell is likely going to remain a Raider for the time being, but strong performances from Miller could lead to a tense position battle.