The closer we get to a Raiders quarterback decision, the more it’s starting to look like Aidan O’Connell is going to win the job.
There have been a few insiders in recent days that have hinted the Raiders might be leaning toward O’Connell, and a Raider Nation Radio host dropped a similar notion on Thursday.
‘JT the Brick’ is employed by the Raiders and hosts a weekday radio show on their flagship radio station. His angle on the team is not the same as others covering the team and he has access to the organization that not everyone reporting on the Raiders is able to get.
“You’ve got these first two games on the road,” he said on his Raider Nation Radio program. “They are really tough [and] we’re going up against two of the better defenses or individual defensive players out there. Maybe Gardner [Minshew] can get out there, step out of the pocket, run away from Khalil Mack and Bosa a little better than Aidan. Let’s give him the shot to play the first two games.”
But after talking to people familiar with the organization (is it safe to assume they were a part of the organization?), JT said the decision on the team’s starting quarterback might be more about the future than the first two games.
“Most of the people I talked to today that are off the record, vetoed me,” JT said. “They said, ‘No, you’re being an emotional radio host. It’s not about who they like more. It’s about the organization. The organization has a young Aidan O’Connell that is being groomed to potentially be the franchise quarterback of the organization. You have to act in his best interest if this [competition] is close.'”
It’s worth noting JT added that he doesn’t believe the decision has been made on a quarterback, but from the outside it’s starting to feel like Minshew is going to have to play considerably better than O’Connell to win the job.
