March 13, 2025
The Raiders recently
traded for
Geno Smith, leaving O'Connell as the likely No. 2 quarterback for 2025.
ANALYSISO'Connell got a chance to compete for the starting job last summer, losing out to
Gardner Minshew (collarbone) but then taking over midseason. Minshew ended up taking the job back after O'Connell suffered a thumb fracture, with things later swinging back to the latter after the former broke his collarbone. The team released Minshew on Wednesday, leaving O'Connell in the clear for the second spot on the depth chart, albeit presumably without any chance to push Smith for the starting role.