Getting into the 2023 NFL Draft, there have been rumors that the Las Vegas Raiders had been going to take one of many highly-touted quarterback prospects to groom behind Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Raiders wound up utilizing their first-round choose on Tyree Wilson, however they did depart the draft with a rookie quarterback once they chosen Aidan O’Connell within the fourth spherical. O’Connell had a subpar collegiate profession, although he did handle to earn second-team All-Huge Ten Convention honors within the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
O’Connell is at the moment competing with Brian Hoyer for the No. 2 signal-caller position, however followers raised eyebrows when he was given Derek Carr’s No. 4 to don on his jersey. Nevertheless, the rookie downplayed the importance of it through Paul Gutierrez of ESPN”
Requested #Raiders rookie QB Aidan O’Connell what went into his sporting No. 4, after sporting No. 16 at Purdue. Stated O’Connell: “It was the quantity that was given to me. I actually don’t care what quantity I play with; I’ll play with any quantity. So, I don’t fear an excessive amount of about that.”
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 9, 2023
Las Vegas and Carr ended on a bitter be aware because the latter was benched down the stretch final 12 months. After failing to discover a appropriate commerce, the Raiders ended up releasing Carr who then signed a four-year cope with the New Orleans Saints.
It appears somewhat disrespectful that the group would hand Carr’s quantity to somebody new so rapidly, however O’Connell did the suitable factor by not feeding the narrative. Carr himself in all probability received’t suppose an excessive amount of of the gesture, however there will definitely be individuals who discover it odd.
Raiders followers are going to wish time to get used to seeing another person sporting No. 4 on the sphere, although O’Connell isn’t anticipated to see many snaps in 2023.
Derek Carr believes Raiders didn’t get his finest in 2022 season
Carr served because the long-time chief and steward for Las Vegas, serving to them get by means of a number of roller-coaster seasons that had been crammed with drama and dropping. Whereas he could not have been the simplest quarterback annually, his management was a lot wanted as he managed to maintain the locker room collectively.
As for his 2022 efficiency, the brand new Saints quarterback had his moments however didn’t look fairly the identical from years prior. Even Carr needed to admit that the Raiders didn’t get his finest final season, however none of that issues now as each side have moved on.