Raiders Reportedly Could Try to Trade Aidan O’Connell for Day 3 2025 NFL Draft Pick

The Las Vegas Raiders reportedly could be looking to clear some space in their quarterback room ahead of next week's NFL draft.

According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, the Raiders' new brass with general manager John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll "doesn’t seem that high on incumbent Aidan O’Connell and many expect them to try and trade him for a pick on Day 3 of the draft."

The Raiders own the No. 6 pick in the first round and could have the chance to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders or another top prospect. However, Las Vegas acquired veteran signal-caller Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks this offseason, and Tafur noted that the team is "believed by executives and agents around the league to be targeting a quarterback as early as Round 2."

Carroll and Spytek have done their homework on the position, as the Raiders hosted quarterback prospects Jaxson Dart, Quinn Ewers and Will Howard for pre-draft visits this week. One of them could be in play for Las Vegas when it's back on the clock with the No. 37 pick. Howard could be particularly intriguing, as he helped lead Ohio State to a national championship last season under the direction of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who now holds that position with the Raiders.

This year's quarterback class is not nearly as strong as the 2024 group that saw six signal-callers selected within the first 12 picks. Miami's Cam Ward is expected to be the No. 1 pick by the Tennessee Titans, but the landing spots for Sanders and the rest of the quarterback prospects are far from certain.

All questions will be answered in just a week when the 2025 NFL draft kicks off in Green Bay on April 24.