The Las Vegas Raiders struggled to find consistency under center last season, a key reason for their disappointing performance. New general manager John Spytek has taken swift action to address the issue, swinging a trade this offseason for two-time Pro Bowler Geno Smith, who is expected to be the team’s starter in 2025.
While Aidan O’Connell, who started 17 games over the past two seasons, remains under contract through 2026, his future with the franchise is uncertain. According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, the Raiders are strongly considering moving O’Connell during NFL Draft weekend.
“Bringing in a young quarterback to learn behind Smith makes sense (and we think the Raiders might trade Aidan O’Connell on draft weekend),” Tafur wrote.
The Raiders have done their homework on several intriguing QB prospects in this year’s draft class, including Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Will Howard, Jalen Milroe, and Quinn Ewers. Each presents more upside than O’Connell, who showed promise as a rookie but took a step back in his second year—raising doubts about his long-term viability as a franchise quarterback.
If Spytek can secure even a late-round pick in return for O’Connell, it could clear the way for Las Vegas to develop a young quarterback behind Smith, building toward a more stable future at the most important position in football.
