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NFL Rumors: Raiders’ desperate QB chase foiled by "too many teams" aiming for trade

The Las Vegas Raiders had a very pivotal off-season. They named Antonio Pierce, previously the team's interim head coach, their new head coach after firing Josh McDaniels early last season.

When Pierce was named interim head coach, the team benched quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He was signed in the off-season to be their starting QB. They released Garoppolo after the season, one year after his three-year deal.

Finding a new replacement at the QB position was a focal point of the off-season for Las Vegas. It held the 13th overall pick in the draft, looking to draft a QB. But QBs were taken and taken early on in the draft. Six were taken by the time Las Vegas was up to pick, leading the team to draft tight end Brock Bowers.

According to Raiders insider Vinny Bonsignore, the team tried to trade up in the draft multiple times but failed. That's how it landed up staying at pick No. 13, drafting Bowers.

"They tried (and tried) to trade up. Too many teams ahead of them needed QBs too," Bonsignore tweeted.

The team signed free agent veteran QB Gardner Minshew to battle O'Connell for the starting job this off-season.

Gardner Minshew will start for the Las Vegas Raiders while Aidan O'Connell will serve as the backup

NFL: JUL 24 Raiders Training Camp - Source: Getty
NFL: JUL 24 Raiders Training Camp - Source: Getty

A day after the Las Vegas Raiders played their second pre-season game this season, head coach Antonio Pierce named the starting QB for Week 1. Gardner Minshew will start for the team at QB, and O'Connell will serve as his backup.

Veteran Minshew started for the Indianapolis Colts last season for 13 games, going 7-6 in Anthony Richardson's absence. Minshew has a 15-22 career record and has thrown 9,937 yards, 59 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. O'Connell went 5-5 last season at QB, throwing for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Do you think Las Vegas made the right choice going with Gardner Minshew as their starting QB?

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