The biggest current question mark about the Las Vegas Raiders as they sit a day before the initial 53-man roster cut-down date and 12 days before the start of the regular season at the New England Patriots is, of course, who will backup starting quarterback Geno Smith.
That became a clouded situation Saturday night when Aidan O’Connell fractured his right wrist. He is expected to be out 6-8 weeks. Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said Sunday the team will be looking for a veteran backup.
The shouldn’t
have to wait very long. The Raiders could make their decision at anytime and they will likely try to get this resolved by Wednesday at the latest. They can add a street free agent, they can trade for a quarterback or they can wait until after Tuesday’s cuts to either sign as a free agent or a waiver claim depending on their situation.
While O’Connell’s replacement could be anyone at this point, there has been some names speculated about and connected to the Raiders. Let’s review some of the options:
Ryan Tannehill:
He is the most experienced player on this list. Tannehill, 37, has 151 career starts with the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans. He hasn’t played since 2023 when he started eight games. He’s nothing special, but he certainly has experience.
Tyler Huntley:
At the end of the day, he’s a mid-to-low level backup. But in the short term, you could get by with him. He has 14 starts in five seasons.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson:
A young backup who can’t stick around places. Not sure he is ready to be a No. 2. He played for Las Vegas offensive coordinator at UCLA. So, perhaps there will be interested. by the way, DTR is from Las Vegas, so he’d probably be excited about joining the Silver and Black.
Brett Rypien:
He was on the Seahawks’ practice squad in 2023 with Pete Carroll. He has just four starts since 2020. He is not considered a solid backup.
Jameis Winston:
The Giants have a crowded quarterback room but they said Winston is not available in a trade. But it may be worth calling about.
Kyle McCord:
He reportedly is being cut by the Eagles. He was drafted one pick after the Raiders took defensive tackle J.J. Pegues in the sixth round. He was drafted 34 picks before the Raiders selected Cam Miller. if the Raiders like McCord they can put in a claim. Still, expect a veteran to be added in this scenario.
Again, these are just some of the names connected to the Raiders. We shall see who will be added soon enough.
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