Rival Scout Says Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell Has ‘Untapped Potential’

Antonio Pierce led a rapid turnaround last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, which earned him the opportunity to drop the interim tag and enter 2024 as the head coach in Las Vegas.

The Raiders fired Josh McDaniels on Nov. 1 following a Week 8 loss to the Lions. That’s when Pierce took over. He won his first two games and five of the last nine. Las Vegas became a vaunted defense over those final two months, allowing less than 16 points per game under his watch.

Pierce won over the locker room, and that’s why, a scout said, he ultimately got the job.

“Antonio Pierce defines the term, ‘players’ coach.’ He gets it,” an anonymous scout told Athlon Sports for the 2024 Preview magazine . “He’s very relatable and authentic. Guys respond to him and that’s why he got the permanent head-coaching job.”

The Raiders’ offseason moves drew mixed reviews from the scout, who applauded the hiring of Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco and questioned the decision to bring in Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator.

Telesco spent the last 11 years as the general manager of the division rival Chargers until he was fired last December. Ironically, it was a 63–21 loss to Las Vegas that was the nail in the coffin for Telesco and coach Brandon Staley.

“Telesco has a lot of experience,” the scout said. “[I] thought he did a good job drafting for the Chargers.”

Some of those picks included Pro Bowlers Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Rashawn Slater and Justin Herbert. However, the scout noted that Telesco “wasn’t great at free agency as far as negotiating with players.”

As for Getsy, who spent the last two years in the same position with the Bears, the scout wondered about his ability to elevate second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who the scout said has “untapped potential.” O’Connell went 5–5 as the starter as a rookie and finished the year with 2,218 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

“Not sure they have a good enough offensive coordinator in Luke Getsy to bring it out of him,” the scout said. “[It] feels like they settled at the play-caller spot.”

O’Connell could face some pressure for the starting job this season, though. Telesco signed free agent Gardner Minshew, who “has got to be the best backup in the NFL,” the scout said.

There are a few weapons in place for O’Connell or Minshew between wide receiver Davante Adams and first-round tight end Brock Bowers, but defense is going to be the Raiders’ strength once again this season, especially after they splurged on defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in free agency.

“Maxx Crosby is just relentless and has a ton of moves,” the scout said. “It’s a long day at the office against that guy. Having Christian Wilkins and Crosby on the same defensive line, that should be illegal.”

In order for Las Vegas to keep up in the stacked AFC, its defense will have to continue its top-flight play from 2023.

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