Aidan O’Connell Should Continue Starting For The Raiders

Aidan O’Connell Should Continue Starting For The Raiders

I am not always the brightest bulb in the string of lights, but dammit sometimes I know good decisions when I see them. Here’s the current situation: The Las Vegas Raiders are 1-3, the offense looks stagnant, the defense can give you one good half and this team is not in a position to win or be a contender.

This raises the question of who should start for the Raiders behind center: Aidan O’Connell (AOC) or Jimmy Garoppolo? The answer is simple. It’s O’Connell every day of the week and twice on Sunday. The reason might surprise you though.

This has nothing to do with who’s a better QB or who puts the Raiders in the best position to win. I knew the Raiders weren’t going to be a winning team if you watched the AFC West record predictions that Garrett and I did.

It’s about the direction of the Raiders themselves. What was the point of getting rid of Derek Carr (which I was against) and getting basically the same, but prettier quarterback in Jimmy G? It was a lateral move at QB and it might actually be worse for them. I hated the Jimmy G signing then and I still do.

Drafting AOC in the 4th round was not a bad idea. They need to let him get experience. I think he might be a solid backup in the NFL. It was a mistake that he was inactive for the first three weeks of the NFL season because he was QB3 on the depth chart behind old-ass Brian Hoyer.

Did he have a rough first game? Absolutely, and he was still in a position to tie the game at the end. I don’t know if we can say the same for Jimmy G who leads the NFL in INTs in only three games. Did AOC get sacked seven times? Yes. Did he have three fumbles and one interception? Yep. But once again, it’s about the principle of the situation.

What is the point of starting Jimmy G? He’s 31-years-old; he’s basically tapped out on his ceiling as a QB, and he probably won’t (he shouldn’t) be the starter next year. He won’t be here long-term. AOC should be here long term.

At this rate, the Raiders are going to be drafting a high-caliber QB in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. That means the rookie quarterback and AOC should be on the roster for 2024. So, why keep starting a QB that isn’t going to be here in Garopollo? If AOC is going to stay on the roster next year, that dude needs all the experience he can get.

This also doesn’t mean I’ve written AOC off either as a dude who can’t play. It can really be simplified as this: If AOC sucks this year, or is “developing,” that’s fine, the Raiders get a good draft pick to pick a better QB in the draft or at least someone for him to compete with. If AOC does well, then, the Raiders might have a future QB for them at the helm to maybe be the franchise QB. It’s a win-win.

Starting Jimmy G does the opposite of that. He might run Josh McDaniels’s offense better than AOC, win a few more games than him, and put the Raiders worse drafting position to probably not make the playoffs all while not giving AOC the experience he deserves and needs in this league. Make it make sense.

2023 NFL Division Record Predictions: AFC West

TL//DR: Start Aidan O’Connell because it’s a smarter decision for the franchise. Starting Jimmy G is worse for the franchise in the long run. Argue with your stepaunts ugly English Bulldog.

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