The New Orleans Saints had long anticipated the possibility that Derek Carr wouldn’t suit up for the 2025 season, and with his retirement now official, they might want to bring in a seasoned quarterback. Currently, their quarterback room includes Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler, and Tyler Shough—who together account for just seven NFL starts.
The Saints previously turned to the Las Vegas Raiders for Carr, and they could do so again in search of a short-term replacement.
Aidan O’Connell, who was drafted in the same round as Haener, has accumulated significantly more playing time over the last two years. Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton suggested that O’Connell could be a logical candidate to fill Carr’s shoes in New Orleans.
Moton wrote, “With head coach Pete Carroll’s strong connection to Geno Smith—dating back to their time with the Seahawks when Smith earned the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year and made two Pro Bowls—don’t expect a wide-open quarterback battle in Las Vegas. Plus, the Raiders selected Cam Miller in the sixth round this year, likely to be a developmental project for offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
“At 26, O’Connell has proven himself to be a capable backup and spot starter, with 17 starts to his name. He’s capable of competing with or outperforming an older bridge quarterback for the starting job.”
Raiders Have Been Open to Trading O’Connell
The Raiders would probably welcome a trade offer for Aidan O’Connell. Although he performed admirably under challenging conditions, the organization now has a new front office and coaching staff in place.
They’ve also committed to Geno Smith as their starter. While O’Connell is a solid backup and a more reliable option for 2025 than rookie Miller, The Athletic has previously noted that the team explored trading him during the draft — a sign that they’re not fully invested in him.
Parting ways with a dependable backup like O’Connell and turning things over to an unproven rookie would be a gamble, though it’s possible head coach Antonio Pierce has another veteran quarterback in mind. Still, if the Saints come forward with a draft pick, the Raiders might find it difficult to pass up.
What if Raiders Decide to Keep O’Connell?
It’s unlikely the Raiders would release O’Connell outright. He’s a young quarterback with 17 starts under his belt and a 20-to-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio, which gives him some value.
If the team keeps him, O’Connell will have the opportunity to compete for the starting role. Under Pete Carroll, no player’s position is guaranteed—regardless of salary.
If O’Connell outperforms Smith during training camp, he could earn the starting job. While that’s a long shot, he can still show he’s a capable backup. He’s performed admirably given the instability around him.
In just two seasons, O’Connell has worked with four different playcallers and is now under his third head coach and fifth playcaller. It would be smart for the Raiders to see if there’s still untapped potential.