Could the Las Vegas Raiders be a sleeper team in the NFL?
The Las Vegas Raiders have a lot of questions to be answered this season, primarily at the quarterback position.
A franchise that has a defense ready to win now, the Raiders haven’t been able to solve the quarterback problem since Derek Carr left. And going into 2024, they have a competition on their hands between veteran Gardner Minshew and second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell.
With preseason approaching, many experts aren’t high on the Raiders going into the season. And rightfully so. But one talk show host believes they can be a sleeper team this year.
Rich Eisen of The Rich Eisen Show released his top 5 NFL sleeper teams and Las Vegas is at No. 5 on his list.
“I like the Las Vegas Raiders to be a sleeper team. Nobody is thinking about it,” Eisen said. “Right now, Aidan O’Connell, by the way if you look up the Raiders depth chart, he’s one over Gardner Minshew. He’s got a little bit of the Stabler, the Snake. A little bit in him. I don’t know. I just like what Antonio Pierce cooked up last year. And Zamir White, he’s going to be available in a lot of fantasy drafts this year. And then Brock Bowers, I can’t wait to see what he looks like. Then Maxx Crosby and the rest of that defense, let’s see what Antonio Pierce is cooking up.”
The reasons are valid as Eisen is operating under the assumption that Minshew will be the starter. The Raiders have talent as Eisen pointed out, including at some key positions. Las Vegas’ biggest key to success could be relying on the run game and having solid defensive play. Not putting too much on whoever wins the quarterback job.
The other teams that made the list: No. 4 Minnesota, No. 3 Arizona, No. 2 Washington, No. 1 Tennessee.
What’s the latest on the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback situation?
The Raiders haven’t been in training camp for long so the battle still rolls on for the head coach. But Pierce is hoping one of the two wins it sooner than later. And he wants whoever that is to prove it as the Associated Press wrote this week:
Aidan O’Connell at Purdue and Gardner Minshew at Washington State were used to fighting for their jobs, and little has changed in the NFL.
O’Connell wasn’t promised the starting job even after going 5-4 in the second half of last season, and Minshew found himself on the free-agent market even after showing in three different spots he could be effective if not consistent.
And now they are battling each other to be the Raiders’ starting quarterback, and neither has created separation.
Coach Antonio Pierce, typically loquacious, was succinct when asked Tuesday about the state of the position. “Status quo,” he said.
When pressed for more, Pierce said, “I’m going to keep saying it — somebody just take it and say, ‘I’m the guy, AP.’ Make it clear and evident and we’ll make that decision at that point.”
Las Vegas will open up the preseason on August 10th, facing off against the Minnesota Vikings. Both O’Connell and Minshew will get a lot of reps in that game but it may not be decided then. They will also the Dallas Cowboys before closing out the preseason at home against the San Francisco 49ers.
And by then, hopefully there’s an answer as they can prepare for the Week 1 showdown in Los Angeles.
