With just two weeks to go before the start of the 2025 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders have a quarterback problem.
No, it’s not with their starter, Geno Smith, but rather their top backup, Aidan O’Connell, who suffered a fractured right wrist on Saturday night.
Head coach Pete Carroll revealed that O’Connell is going to miss six to eight weeks with the injury, which means he’s headed to injured reserve to start the year.
The Raiders are now likely to add another quarterback before Week 1. Las Vegas does have Cam Miller on the roster, but the rookie has seen the wheels come off a bit over the final two preseason games after showing promise in the opener.
When it comes to possible trade partners for the Raiders to land their backup, one team that immediately comes to mind is the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland entered the offseason with a four-man competition at quarterback, and Joe Flacco has now won that competition, beating out fellow veteran Kenny Pickett.
As a result, many believe Pickett is now a trade candidate, even though the Browns have made it clear they aren’t against carrying four quarterbacks. Of course, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are also on the roster.
On Sunday morning, former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley suggested the Raiders trade for Pickett to serve as Smith’s backup.
“Geno and Kenny would make a good pairing (with the Raiders),” Haley wrote on X.
A former first-round pick, Pickett failed miserably in his attempt to be the Steelers’ long-term solution at quarterback, although he didn’t exactly have a great supporting cast.
Pickett served as Jalen Hurts’ backup with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, completing 25-of-42 passes (59.5%) for 291 yards and two touchdowns to one interception.
We find it hard to believe the Browns will carry four quarterbacks, no matter what they say. And, chances are they’d rather part ways with Pickett than Sanders or Gabriel given the fact there’s at least some hope one of them will develop into Cleveland’s future under center.
The Browns gave up a fifth-round pick in the package to acquire Pickett in March, so they’ll likely be looking for that kind of selection in return. Las Vegas shouldn’t offer more than a sixth-round pick and even that might be too much.
