Raiders HC Antonio Pierce expands on team's QB plans

Although Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce recently gave Aidan O'Connell a vote of confidence, the Raiders are still considering drafting another quarterback.

Pierce addressed the situation at the annual league meeting in Orlando on Monday. 

"Everything's on the table," he said, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "Whatever makes the Raiders better, I'm all for it. When I say I'm a go-getter, meaning whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes to get the best player to make our team the best, that's what I want to do, and that's what I'd like to see us do."

Pierce recently told NFL Network's Steve Wyche that O'Connell has "earned the right to compete" with Gardner Minshew II — who signed a two-year, $25M deal in free agency — for the starting job. However, neither is a franchise QB.

During his rookie season, O'Connell — a fourth-round pick out of Purdue — completed 62.1% of his passes for 12 TDs, seven interceptions and a below-average 40.5 QBR in 11 games. Minshew II, meanwhile, has played for three teams (Colts, Eagles and Jaguars) in five seasons and is 15-22 as a starter.

Bonsingore noted Pierce shares a connection with 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels (LSU), whom he recruited when he was a recruiting coordinator at Arizona State. The Raiders have the 13th pick in the draft, though, and Tankathon projects the Washington Commanders will take Daniels with the second pick.

The Raiders could look into other options. In his latest mock draft, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson has them trading for the 31st overall pick from the San Francisco 49ers and taking 2023 second-team All-American Michael Penix Jr. (Washington).

"In this mock draft, the Raiders send picks 44 and 148 in 2024, and a 2nd- and 4th-rounder in 2025 to move up to No. 31," wrote Wilson. "Las Vegas gets the best deep-ball thrower in the class, in addition to arguably the best cornerback [Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell] with pick No. 13."

Pierce recently said he doesn't want a "Band-Aid" at QB. Expect the Raiders to be aggressive in the draft to find an answer at the most important position.