Aidan O'connell

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	INT	RTG
Career		21	3,932	20	11	84.1
2025		1	102	0	0	59.3
2024		9	1,612	8	4	86.7

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

This A- CVI contract represents an absolute steal for the Raiders, locking up a promising young quarterback at backup money while maintaining significant upside potential. O'Connell's $1.1M AAV sits well below even rotational quarterback salaries, yet he's shown enough flashes as a developmental prospect to warrant starter consideration if Derek Carr's successor falters. At just 25 years old, the Purdue product is entering his prime development window, making this four-year commitment a shrewd bet on upside rather than paying for proven production. The contract structure heavily favors Las Vegas with minimal guaranteed money ($0.5M) and an escape hatch if O'Connell doesn't progress, while giving them controlled rights to a potential franchise quarterback at bargain-basement pricing. The Raiders essentially acquired a lottery ticket with legitimate starter traits for the cost of a special teams contributor. This deal exemplifies smart roster construction — identifying value in the margins while other teams overpay for name recognition at the position. If O'Connell takes the expected developmental leap, this contract will look like highway robbery within two seasons.

Performance Analysis

Aidan O'connell grades as a rotational player among NFL quarterbacks — a middle-of-the-pack player at the position. His strongest area is passer rating at 59.3 (below the NFL average of 77.2), ranking as well below average for the position. Passing yards per game, at 102.0 compared to an NFL average of 230.0, is where he falls short relative to the position. His efficiency metrics suggest a backup-caliber quarterback at this stage.

Current Sentiment

Aidan O'Connell enters 2026 with a D- sentiment grade, facing what amounts to an organizational vote of no confidence from the Raiders. The franchise's high-profile signing of Kirk Cousins sent an unmistakable message about O'Connell's standing, with media coverage explicitly framing the veteran acquisition as casting doubt on his future rather than building depth. His preseason wrist fracture, requiring 6-8 weeks of recovery, only compounds the perception of a quarterback whose window may be closing before it truly opened. At just $1.1M annually with three years of experience and a mediocre 84.1 passer rating, O'Connell lacks the contract leverage or proven track record to survive this institutional pivot toward veteran competition. The narrative has shifted from developmental patience to existential questions about whether he remains part of the Raiders' long-term quarterback plans, creating a perception that he's fighting for his professional survival rather than competing for a starting role.