Las Vegas reportedly could trade quarterback before end of the draft
There is a chance the Las Vegas Raiders could part ways with quarterback Aidan O’Connell in the coming days or during the April 24-26 draft.
There have been media reports suggesting the Raiders could trade O’Connell and it certainly makes sense. There is a strong chance he is not in the plan moving forward of the team’s new regime.
O’Connell, who was a fourth-round draft pick in 2023, was picked from a past regime. The new regime is moving forward with veteran Geno Smith as the starter for the immediate future and likely will select a quarterback in the draft at some point to groom behind Smith.
That could pave the way for O’Connell exit. Still, there is also a possibility that the Raiders could opt to keep O’Connell as a backup in 2025.
He has 17 starts in two years, and, while, he’s been far from perfect, O’Connell could be more ready to help than a rookie should Smith sustain an injury and miss any amount of time.
Yet, if Las Vegas does decide to deal him, there could be some interest. That interest would likely come on Day 3 of the draft after most of the top quarterback prospects are taken. If the Raiders do swing a deal for O’Connell, what could they get in return?
In the big picture, the answer isn’t much, but if a team like the Cleveland Browns or Pittsburgh Steelers feel desperate, that could change.
New England recently traded second-year quarterback Joe Milton and a seventh-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round pick.
While O’Connell is more experienced than Milton, Milton may be considered to have more upside because of his big arm. So, if the Raiders trade O’Connell, a late-round pick swap may be the most likely outcome.
Or, the Raiders can see how the draft plays out and then keep O’Connell and may try to flip him at high highest value if there is a quarterback injury in training camp. But this is a situation worth monitoring in the coming days.
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