The hottest topic of conversation surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders ahead of the 2024 NFL season is their quarterback situation, where they're set to have a battle for the starting job in training camp.
After not adding a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, signal-callers Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew are set to compete for the right to start under center. Many are giving Minshew the edge over O'Connell thanks to his experience and the two-year, $25 million deal the Raiders gave the veteran this offseason.
Raiders general manager Tom Telesco touched on the topic on Thursday, explaining why he's optimistic about both participants.
"That's the plan is to have both those guys really compete through the offseason program, but more so in training camp, and we'll see how it plays out," he said. "I thought Aidan did an excellent job last year in a really difficult situation where the head coach changed, the coordinator changed, and he played really good football down the stretch. I've had a chance to be around him a little bit more in the building and you kind of see the quarterback intangibles that are there, which is nice to have, that you have to have as a franchise quarterback.
"And then with Gardner, you know, Gardner played well last year with the Colts. I mean, he was in the Pro Bowl, so obviously had a pretty good year. He's always performed at a high level when he's given that opportunity, so to have both those guys here competing for the job, we'll see how it goes."
After an impressive run as the Raiders' interim head coach in the wake of the team firing Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas hired Antonio Pierce as its full-time head coach this offseason.
Telesco has been impressed with Pierce thus far and explained what separates the Raiders head coach from others.
"It's hard to [compare] Antonio Pierce with anybody if you've been around him," Telesco said. "He just has a special ability to relate to people and lead people. Communication, motivation, education -- he just has that trait that you either have or you don't. He has that leadership trait and it's been fun working with him. He's coached at the high school level, the college level, the pro level -- he knows how to connect with athletes. He was obviously a high-level player himself in the NFL.
"He's had to earn everything he's ever had to get in the game of football. So, it's been really fun working with him -- he does not carry himself like a first-time head coach at all. He has a really big picture view of the football team and our future and a vision of what he wants to be on offense, defense and special teams ... it's been a great relationship so far."
Pierce led the Raiders to a 5-4 record in the second half of last season and the team nearly made the playoffs as a result. The hope is Pierce and Co. can build off that and end Las Vegas' two-year playoff drought.
