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Raiders should start exploring QB options in 2025
The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback of the future doesn't appear to be on their active roster.
In Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos, Raiders starting QB Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone. The sixth-year veteran went 2-7 in nine starts, throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine) in 10 games.
Per NFL Media's Tom Pelissero, Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell — who recently recovered from a broken right thumb — is slated to start Friday's road game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Desmond Ridder is expected to be the backup.
Gardner Minshew’s season is over after breaking his collarbone Sunday. O’Connell started 2 games earlier this season and now is headed towards a third, with Desmond Ridder as backup. https://t.co/8cXN1CNXiC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 26, 2024
With six games remaining, O'Connell could show why he should be the team's QB1 in 2025 but don't expect that to happen.
In two seasons with the Raiders, the former fourth-round pick has a 5-7 starting record and has posted a below-average 82.4 passer rating in 15 games.
On Monday, Fox Sports Jordan Schultz reported the Raiders recently courted former New York Giants QB Daniel Jones, but he rejected them and wants to play for a playoff contender.
Sources: Despite interest from the #Raiders, free agent QB Daniel Jones has eliminated Las Vegas from his consideration (contrary to other reports).
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 26, 2024
The former #Giants’ QB is weighing substantial interest from multiple playoff teams, and wants to join a postseason contender. pic.twitter.com/vKhrRvJVcY
The Raiders may not attract other free-agent QBs. Vegas fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy after Week 9, and head coach Antonio Pierce's future seems uncertain.
With that in mind, Vegas should target QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft class, perhaps Colorado's Shedeur Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward. In his latest mock draft, The 33rd Team's Kyle Crabbs has the Raiders taking Sanders — tied for the FBS' second-most TD passes (30 in 11 games) — with pick No. 3.
"Sanders has great field vision and touch, which could help expand the Raiders passing attack beyond rookie phenom [tight end] Brock Bowers in the years ahead," wrote Crabbs.
In October, Raiders owner Mark Davis and Sanders chatted at a Las Vegas Aces playoff game. Of course, that doesn't mean Vegas will draft the Colorado star, but it's noteworthy.
The conversation could signal Davis is considering adding another QB and wants to become acquainted with some of the top prospects.
More must-reads:
- Gardner Minshew's season-ending injury could force Raiders to sign this replacement
- Struggling AFC team surprisingly named a potential suitor for Daniel Jones
- The 'Last Pro Bowl QB for every NFL team' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Hall of Famer believes this AFC QB will win Super Bowl first
Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon just made headlines during a recent appearance on "Up Adams," where he gave his take on one of the NFL’s most debated questions. When asked which star quarterback will win a Super Bowl first, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen or Joe Burrow, Moon without any hesitation went with Jackson. “We have Josh Allen, MVP, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, they wrecked the league last year… Which one of those three do you think has the best shot to get one this year?” Kay Adams asked. Moon responded, “I think Lamar.” Moon’s reasoning for this take was not due to stats or accolades, because both have great numbers and awards, rather Moon was focused on the surrounding cast around Jackson. While he was complimentary of Allen and the team around him, he emphasized that the Ravens had a strong secondary, incredible running back and solid wideouts that could allow them to be a serious threat to win it all. It is easy to see why Moon made his opinion clear and without hesitation. Jackson is one of the top quarterbacks in the league, with four Pro Bowl nods, three All-Pro selections and two MVP awards. He is the best dual-threat quarterback in the world, and now with an incredible roster around him, Jackson has become much scarier. However, pressure is mounting on the superstar QB, and Moon did make the case for Allen to also potentially win first. “Josh Allen, they’ll be right there too. I think it depends on who plays who in the playoffs … You have to go through playing both Kansas City and Baltimore if you’re Buffalo, and same thing if you’re the Ravens, you gotta play both of those to get to the Super Bowl … But if you only have to play one of them, that would be great.” Allen is also regarded as one of the league’s best QBs too, and Moon's argument has a lot of merit to it. Both Buffalo and Baltimore are flooded with talented pieces that are hungry to make that Super Bowl run. It could come down to matchups come playoff time. If one squad has an easier route to the AFC Championship game, then it might be the one who ultimately comes out on top. As for Burrow, Moon did not mention him in the conversation, but clearly it was not meant to be a slight on him as a player. Rather, for obvious reasons, it seems that Moon might have Baltimore and Buffalo as overall rosters in a higher tier from Cincinnati. Ultimately however, time will tell who breaks first. But if Moon is correct, Jackson might finally be able to silence his critics, and make his mark on NFL history.
Caitlin Clark drops mic on Kelsey Plum's Instagram post
Caitlin Clark might be the most popular figure in women's basketball right now, but she continues to draw shots left and right, both on and off the court. The Iowa product has stayed even keeled and mostly unrattled, but that doesn't mean she won't fight back. That's why, in the light of Kelsey Plum's recent comments, she decided to take matters into her own hands and clapped back at her with a simple, six-word message. Plum shared a picture of her during the WNBA's All-Star Weekend, which showed half of a Nike logo in the background. Clark was quick to spot it and just wrote "Thank u for the Nike ad." This happened just hours after Plum seemingly took a shot at Clark and her Team Clark teammates for reportedly not getting involved in their pre-game protest. “The T-shirt was determined this morning. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that,” Plum revealed. “That really needed to be mentioned,” Sabrina Ionescu added while both laughed. WNBA All-Stars warmed up with a T-Shirt that read 'Pay us what you owe us,' ahead of their new CBA agreement, which is expected to be signed in the offseason. WNBA players get around 9 percent of the league's revenue, and they're asking for a bigger share since most of them also have to play overseas during the offseason because of the salary disparity. Plum is the vice president of the WNBPA, so it's not surprising to see her so involved in the protest and the demands. Then again, it's hard to understand the reasoning behind the tattle telling, as not only does it show that there might not be a united front ahead of these negotiations, but it also drives attention away from where it should be.
Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
The Chicago Blackhawks, a crowded goaltending situation and trade rumors involving the Edmonton Oilers have fans wondering if the Stars' rivals could soon upgrade their crease before training camp. With training camp approaching, Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson has five goalies under contract, including Spencer Knight, Arvid Soderblom, Drew Commesso, newly signed Stanislav Berezhnoy, and veteran Laurent Brossoit. Only two NHL roster spots are available, which has fueled speculation that Brossoit could be moved to a contender, with Edmonton emerging as a leading candidate. For Stars fans, seeing the Oilers potentially bolster their crease should raise eyebrows. Edmonton, fresh off a deep playoff run, is looking to avoid the same issues that hurt them late in the postseason. "The Blackhawks have too many goalies and not enough spots, and Brossoit's contract and experience make him a natural trade chip for a team like the Oilers."-Julien Trekker Chicago's goalie logjam and Berezhnoy's recent signing are detailed further at NHL.com. Dallas could see its rival upgrade as Blackhawks explore trading Laurent Brossoit Brossoit, 32, carries a $3.3 million cap hit for one more season. Drafted by Calgary in 2011, he's appeared in 140 NHL games, including time with Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Vegas, where he helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023. While Chicago decides, Drew Commesso continues to push for NHL time after posting a .911 save percentage over 39 AHL games. For a deeper look at Commesso's performance, his full profile is on Elite Prospects. I think if Edmonton lands Brossoit or even Commesso, Dallas may have to plan around a deeper Oilers team come playoff time, especially given how tight the Western race looks on paper.
NASCAR Hall of Famer spars with media over playoff debate
Mark Martin has made his thoughts on the current NASCAR playoff format known, and those thoughts were further thrust into the limelight on Tuesday. On Tuesday's edition of "Off Track" on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, hosts Danielle Trotta and Larry McReynolds were discussing the committee assembled by NASCAR to look at new ideas for the sport's points format. "I'm not going to mention the driver that's on the playoff committee that I've heard is screaming loudly to go back to that (the Winston Cup points) system," Trotta said. McReynolds followed up by saying, "I bet it's not a driver that's won a championship." While McReynolds did not explicitly refer to Martin — who won 40 Cup Series races and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017 despite not winning a championship — it appeared to be implied that Martin was the driver he was referring to. Trotta then responded to Martin's dislike of the current Cup Series playoff format. Martin's response was simple. Fans have long debated the merit — or lack thereof — of NASCAR's playoff system, which has been used in some capacity since 2004 and has been in its current iteration since 2017. Interestingly, both Martin and Jeff Gluck of The Athletic polled fans on social media regarding the points format they'd like to see in NASCAR. The results of both polls favored Martin's opinion of a yearlong points system without a postseason. Later in the afternoon, however, McReynolds stated on social media that he was not referring to Martin earlier in the day. "Absolutely not true!," McReynolds said. "Mark Martin is my hero and (I'm) proud to call him a friend! If you would listen closely it’s a driver that is active and on the council! I find it so hard to believe how you folks come up with stuff sometimes!" Regardless of who McReynolds meant to refer to during the show, the comments made by both he and Trotta ignited plenty of discourse regarding Martin and NASCAR's current playoff format. It's unknown whether NASCAR will make any changes to the format in 2026.
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