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Factoid

Gardner Minshew

Raiders have depth at quarterback

The Raiders signed Gardner Minshew to a two-year contract that averages $12.5 million, and I thought that was an interesting signing. It gives them some flexibility heading into the draft.

Las Vegas is among the teams in the market for a long-term quarterback. It potentially could trade up. Or it could be looking to pick up Michael Penix or Bo Nix in the first or second round.

But Minshew (along with holdover Aidan O’Connell) gives them the flexibility to stand pat. If the draft doesn’t unfold the way they’re hoping, they’ve got enough at quarterback that they could kick the can down the road for a year.

O’Connell had a good rookie season, highlighted by him throwing 8 TDs against no interceptions in his final four games.

Minshew has more experience, having played for five years with three different teams. He’s 15-22 as a starter. Not that he’s dynamic, but he’s a pro, and he’s taken care of the ball – just 22 interceptions in those 37 games.

For fantasy purposes, Minshew’s numbers have been a little better than you might realize. There are 36 quarterbacks who’ve started at least 30 games in the last five years. Using standard scoring, Minshew’s overall numbers have been better than over half of those guys. I’ve got him at 242 passing yards per game, with 54 TDs, another with 16 rushing yards per week (with another 5 TDs).

With O’Connell and Minshew, the Raiders are good enough at quarterback that they need not feel any pressure to force a pick on a player if they’re not crazy about him.

STARTING QUARTERBACKS, LAST FIVE YEARS (30-plus starts)
PlayerStPassTDPIntRunTDRPts
Josh Allen822521.91.8036.5627.5
Jalen Hurts512281.29.6547.8026.2
Patrick Mahomes792922.14.6321.1326.2
Lamar Jackson702101.70.6065.3426.0
Dak Prescott662822.05.7414.1724.9
Deshaun Watson432531.70.6527.3024.2
Kyler Murray652411.45.7138.4024.2
Justin Herbert622781.84.6815.1823.9
Joe Burrow522711.87.7112.1923.4
Tom Brady662832.00.622.1423.3
Russell Wilson762371.82.5722.1722.4
Kirk Cousins722631.96.636.0722.3
Aaron Rodgers662442.08.388.1222.2
Matthew Stafford652701.85.785.0221.5
Justin Fields381741.05.7658.3420.8
Ryan Tannehill632241.48.6214.3320.7
Gardner Minshew372421.46.5916.1420.6
Carson Wentz532271.55.7417.1720.6
Geno Smith352421.54.5715.0920.5
Matt Ryan602681.43.837.0820.4
Jared Goff792641.52.714.1020.4
Tua Tagovailoa512451.59.737.1020.0
Trevor Lawrence502351.16.7819.2219.8
Philip Rivers322751.47.971.0019.8
Daniel Jones592121.05.6832.2219.6
Derek Carr812511.48.656.0619.5
Ben Roethlisberger332391.67.641.0319.0
Teddy Bridgewater362261.19.5812.1918.5
Jimmy Garoppolo532331.43.814.0918.5
Andy Dalton432351.30.938.0918.4
Jacoby Brissett312141.13.4817.2318.3
Baker Mayfield732221.37.829.1018.2
Mitchell Trubisky312061.19.7414.2318.1
Sam Darnold432071.05.9314.2817.8
Mac Jones422121.10.868.0216.0
Zach Wilson33186.67.7315.1514.6

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index