The Las Vegas Raiders are ready to bring in a new quarterback this offseason, as the team informed Gardner Minshew that he will be released when the new league year begins. Minshew started nine games for the Raiders in 2024 and was uninspiring before suffering a season-ending collarbone injury.
Aidan O’Connell also started a plethora of contests for Las Vegas last year, and though he was better than Minshew, the former Purdue standout didn’t elevate the offense and played at an average level.
General manager John Spytek must upgrade at quarterback and find a starting-caliber player. He could go the draft route to address the pressing need, but The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt predicts the Raiders will explore free agency and sign Pittsburgh Steelers signal-caller Russell Wilson.
“The Raiders were viewed as having a real shot at Stafford, largely because of the presence of Tom Brady. Most signs point toward the Raiders prioritizing proven veterans over unproven rookies, or even question marks like Fields or Darnold,” Rosenblatt wrote.
“Wilson is probably the next-best veteran on the market after Rodgers, and there are a lot of fun storylines that would come with him going to Las Vegas: He’d reunite with coach Pete Carroll and join forces with Brady, who Wilson lost to in Super Bowl XLIX,” Rosenblatt added.
Wilson had some ups and downs in 2024, but the veteran played efficient and clean football for the Steelers, tossing 16 touchdowns to just five interceptions with a 63.7% completion rate and a 95.6 passer rating. The 36-year-old also led Pittsburgh to a playoff appearance, but the team was bounced in the Wild Card round by the Baltimore Ravens.
Signs are pointing to Wilson hitting the market, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes the Steelers are leaning towards re-signing Justin Fields over the former Seattle Seahawk.
Though he struggled at the end of last season and wouldn’t be a long-term fix, signing Wilson to serve as the 2025 starter would be a fantastic move by Spytek, as the ten-time Pro Bowler is still a solid quarterback who rarely turns the ball over and could flourish in a Las Vegas’ offense that has a few dynamic playmakers and a promising offensive line.
Additionally, Wilson won’t cost as much as other potential veteran quarterback options. Pro Football Focus projects the Super Bowl XLVIII champion will land a two-year deal worth $60 million with $32.5 million guaranteed and $30 million annually. Spotrac believes that number could be $77.4 million over two seasons, which averages to $38.7 million per year.
The Raiders will have $95.3 million in cap space to utilize, which is plenty of money to sign Wilson and address other needs on an underwhelming roster.
Russell Wilson isn’t an elite signal-caller, but the former third-round pick can still lead a team to the playoffs and would be a massive upgrade over O’Connell and Minshew.
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