Report: Gardner Minshew to Be Released by Raiders amid Sam Darnold, NFL Draft Rumors

With a new organizational leadership in place and different quarterback options available this offseason, the Las Vegas Raiders are moving on from Gardner Minshew II.

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Raiders informed Minshew he will be released when the new league year begins on March 12.

Pelissero added that Minshew has $3.2 million in guaranteed money remaining on his contract. Releasing the 28-year-old will save the Raiders $6.3 million against the 2025 cap.

Minshew's status in Las Vegas seemed up in the air after the team hired John Spytek as general manager and Pete Carroll as head coach in January. He was brought in by the previous regime of Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce.

The Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract in free agency last offseason. He was brought in to compete with Aidan O'Connell for the starting job.

Minshew wound up winning the job out of training camp, but he was benched in a Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos. An injury suffered by O'Connell in Week 7 put Minshew back in the lineup for the next four weeks.

A broken collarbone suffered in the Raiders' Week 12 loss to the Broncos ended Minshew's season. He finished the year with 2,013 passing yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 games.

The Raiders still have O'Connell under contract through 2026 on a rookie deal, but they've been heavily linked to quarterbacks in the draft and free agency. They were in the mix to trade for Matthew Stafford before he agreed to a deal that will keep him with the Los Angeles Rams.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Raiders' list of veteran quarterback options include Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. They've also been one of the teams most connected to Shedeur Sanders in the draft and there's a growing sense he could be available when they make their first pick at No. 6 overall.

Moving on from Minshew ensures the Raiders will have a new quarterback starting in Week 1 for the fourth straight season. The last quarterback who started the season opener in consecutive years was Derek Carr from 2014 to '22.

The Raiders are coming off a 4-13 record in 2024. They have posted three consecutive losing seasons since making the playoffs in 2021.