The Las Vegas Raiders enter the offseason with the second-highest cap space in the NFL, holding approximately $95.36 million. With such financial flexibility, they are expected to target a new quarterback, either through free agency or the draft. This decision puts last year’s QB acquisition in jeopardy.
Raiders’ Risky Quarterback Move Backfires
Last offseason, Las Vegas opted to sign Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract instead of selecting a young quarterback from a strong draft class. Minshew battled Aidan O’Connell for the starting role and initially won the job. However, his tenure as the starter was rocky—he was benched three times and ultimately sidelined due to injury.
Minshew’s performance over the season was underwhelming. He completed 203 of 306 pass attempts, throwing for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns, and ten interceptions, while leading the team to a 2-7 record. His season came to an abrupt end in Week 12 due to a broken collarbone.
Heading into the final year of his deal, the 28-year-old quarterback was due to earn a base salary of $11.84 million with a $14 million cap hit, according to Over The Cap. However, with Las Vegas aiming to upgrade at the position and Minshew unlikely to be the starter in 2025, his future with the team was in doubt.
Raiders Cut Minshew, Free Up Cap Space
As reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Raiders have officially released Minshew. This move frees up $6.34 million in cap space but results in a $7.66 million dead cap hit. Following his release, Las Vegas now has approximately $101.7 million available to reshape their roster.
Potential Quarterback Targets
With Minshew gone, the Raiders could explore several notable free-agent quarterbacks, including:
- Sam Darnold
- Russell Wilson
- Justin Fields
- Jameis Winston
- Daniel Jones
- Zach Wilson
- Mac Jones
- Joe Flacco
- Jacoby Brissett
- Taylor Heinicke
As the Raiders search for their next signal-caller, they have plenty of options to consider in free agency or the draft.
