Raiders predicted to unload bad contract via trade in 2025 offseason

The Las Vegas Raiders haven't had the best luck in 2024, as the team is 2-7 and tied for the worst record in the AFC. Antonio Pierce's squad has lost five consecutive games after a 2-2 start, including a frustrating 41-24 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9. 

One of the primary reasons Las Vegas' 2024 campaign has been a complete disaster is the incompetence at the quarterback position, especially from veteran Gardner Minshew.

The 28-year-old was benched for the second time in five weeks on Sunday versus the Bengals, this time in favor of Desmond Ridder, who was filling in for the injured Aidan O'Connell.

Minshew has tossed six touchdowns to eight interceptions this season in seven starts and is clearly not a long-term answer at the position for the Raiders. Though he still has another year on his contract, FanSided's Christopher Kline believes the team should cut their losses and trade Minshew in the offseason.

"Las Vegas signed Minshew to a modest two-year contract in the offseason, but he's already trending toward QB3 status in a mediocre QB room. If O'Connell and Ridder hold an edge, there just won't be an incentive to bring him back in 2025. Other teams can talk themselves into an established, high-level backup quarterback, but Minshew has already sullied his reputation in Sin City."

"We can also assume that quarterback will be a position of interest for the Raiders front office in next year's NFL Draft. If the Raiders add, say, Carson Beck or Cam Ward to a roster that also includes O'Connell and Ridder, Minshew's exit will be implied."

The Raiders should deal Minshew this offseason for any level of draft compensation they can get. The 2019 sixth-round pick has no future in Las Vegas and could serve as a solid backup elsewhere.

After trying the veteran quarterback experiment the last two offseasons with Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew, it's time for Las Vegas to spend a premium draft choice on a signal-caller. The 2025 NFL Draft is filled with exciting young talent at the position, with Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward as the top prospects.

Nevertheless, Minshew's future with the Raiders is extremely bleak, and the former Washington State standout's days as a starting quarterback in the NFL are numbered.