{"id":311740,"date":"2025-08-23T17:43:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T17:43:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/311740\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T17:43:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T17:43:17","slug":"raiders-preseason-mailbag-does-las-vegas-have-backup-quarterback-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/311740\/","title":{"rendered":"Raiders Preseason Mailbag: Does Las Vegas have backup quarterback problem?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The regular season is almost here as the Las Vegas Raiders will wrap up the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday<\/a>. Then, Tuesday is cutdown day for the NFL, where the Raiders will have their 53-man roster set, and we play the waiting game until September 7! But first, we have this week\u2019s mailbag to get to.<\/p>\n

Q: Given the play of Aidan O\u2019Connell and Cam Miller through the first two pre-season games, I am worried about the Raiders\u2019 QB2 position. I know it\u2019s late in the year, but do you think we should consider acquiring a QB2 via trade or FA?<\/p>\n

A: I think the backup quarterback spot is a small concern. In my opinion, O\u2019Connell played better against San Francisco, looking at the majority of his throws. But the interception was terrible, and it feels like he can\u2019t avoid making the one crucial mistake when he\u2019s out there. Plus, throwing three picks against backups isn\u2019t exactly comforting.<\/p>\n

Additionally, I thought Miller looked good in Seattle to potentially push O\u2019Connell. However, the rookie was bad last week, also throwing an interception, and it seems like he\u2019s just not ready yet. That\u2019s fine for his long-term projection, but it doesn\u2019t offer much comfort for the QB2 spot this year.<\/p>\n

I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if the Raiders pay close attention to who gets cut next week, monitoring the Browns\u2019, the Giants\u2019 and the Chargers\u2019 situations, just to name a few teams. Kenny Pickett, Jameis Winston or Taylor Heinicke\/Trey Lance could become available after cutdown day as a few noteworthy options. Throw Case Keenum in there too, since the Bears just extended Tyson Bagent.<\/p>\n

As far as current free agents go, Carson Wentz, C.J. Beathard and Jeff Driskel are the top three available, in my opinion. So, the pickings are slim.<\/p>\n

All that being said, I don\u2019t think O\u2019Connell is a bad backup option. But I also think he needs to have a good outing on Saturday to ease some concerns.<\/p>\n

A: If the Titans are willing to trade for O\u2019Connell, I\u2019d hear them out at the very least. I\u2019d be concerned about what the plan is for a backup quarterback, since Miller is a rookie making the jump from FCS to the NFL and could use a year to sit before getting thrown into the fire. But I\u2019ll take draft picks for a guy who likely won\u2019t be on the roster after 2026, anyway.<\/p>\n

If O\u2019Connell does get dealt, look for one of the quarterbacks mentioned above (or someone else) to be on the front office\u2019s radar. One other name I\u2019ll throw in there is Kyle Trask. John Spytek was in Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers drafted Trask in the second round, and the Bucs signed Teddy Bridgewater at the beginning of training camp. So, Trask could be a potential trade target.<\/p>\n

Q: I really haven\u2019t heard anything about Malcolm Koonce\u2019s progress after his injury, haven\u2019t heard his name mentioned on plays during the first two pre-season games. He\u2019s made one tackle in each game. But how was he doing through training camp and practices? Is he making an impact during practice\/scrimmage games?<\/p>\n

\"HENDERSON,<\/a><\/p>\n

HENDERSON, NEVADA – JULY 23: Maxx Crosby #98 and Malcolm Koonce #51 of the Las Vegas Raiders high-five during the first practice of the team\u2019s training camp at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters\/Intermountain Health Performance Center on July 23, 2025 in Henderson, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

A: There hasn\u2019t been much talk about Koonce in training camp, and he hasn\u2019t looked the same in the two preseason games, lacking some of the burst off the line he showed in 2023. Recently, Pete Carroll even said it looks like Koone has taken some time to get back to his old self.<\/p>\n

\u201dIt\u2019s taken him a little while to feel that he\u2019s back,\u201d Carroll of the pass-rusher said on August 20. \u201cHe came out here and ready to go, and he missed so much in the offseason that he was disappointed in. \u2026 I think it took him time to realize he\u2019s okay and he\u2019s in great shape. It\u2019s often with injuries, particularly lower leg injuries in knees and ankles and all that, you got to believe that it\u2019s okay, and sometimes you have to prove it.\u201d<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Ryan McFadden<\/a> recently dove into Koonce\u2019s role this season, outlining that the Raiders are going to be counting on him a lot this fall. McFadden\u2019s article can shed some more light on the situation.<\/p>\n

A: We\u2019re on the same page with Tyree Wilson\u2019s role, where he lines up as a base end on run downs and slides inside in passing situations. He made a handful of good plays in those two spots last week, so it looks like that\u2019s how the coaching staff is planning on using him this season.<\/p>\n

Especially if Koonce isn\u2019t 100 percent yet, I kind of like a defensive line with Maxx Crosby, Adam Butler, Jonah Laulu\/Thomas Booker IV (or whoever is the other starting DT) and Wilson as the starters or the early down unit. Then, Koonce can come in on passing situations while Wilson moves inside and Laulu\/Booker subs out.<\/p>\n

Q: Linebackers who can excel both against the run and defend against the pass (Fred Warner, Zack Baun) effectively are athletic unicorns. Schematically, I\u2019m assuming this is precisely the reason the Raiders utilize a 4-2-5 defense. All of that being said, why can\u2019t the Raiders find\/draft\/develop a linebacker who can, at the very least, situationally defend against the pass efficiently? Why can\u2019t we have nice things?<\/p>\n

A: I\u2019ve been wondering the same thing\u2014on the linebackers and why the Raiders can\u2019t have nice things\u2014for a while, too, lol.<\/p>\n

However, I will say that while Robert Spillane was never known for his coverage skills, he was at least servicable as an underneath defender in zone coverage. Spillane made several plays on the ball in Las Vegas, coming up with five interceptions and 11 passes defended<\/a> in two seasons. That\u2019s not bad for a run-defending linebacker, and we could see a similar type of role\/production from Germaine Pratt if Pratt can return to his 2022 form, when he had two picks and 10 PDs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As far as drafting and developing linebackers, the trend around the league in recent years is to take a chance on athletes who need a year or two to put some weight on and be better run defenders. The Raiders tried that with Divine Deablo, but Deablo was a college safety who was switching positions, which added an extra element to his development.<\/p>\n

In my opinion, the best way to get a complete linebacker (besides finding one of the unicorns you mentioned) is to draft a good athlete who played the position in college, and then give them a year or two to spend time in the weight room and develop their ability to take on blocks.<\/p>\n

Q: Why hasn\u2019t the coaching staff given Amari Gainer more of a chance versus Tommy Eichenberg and Matt Jones?<\/p>\n

A: Eichenberg has played better than most people realize, especially last week<\/a>. He\u2019s shown a lot of growth from last season, so I think the coaching staff likes him as a backup\/potential starter down the road. Jones is the one I don\u2019t get, based on what he\u2019s shown in the preseason. However, he has apparently been better in practice than in the games, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal\u2019s Vincent Bonsignore<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I wish I had a better answer for you on Gainer; other than I don\u2019t think he fits the Pete Carroll mold at linebacker.<\/p>\n

Gainer has only had six defensive snaps in the preseason, per Pro Football Focus<\/a>, which is a strong indication that he\u2019s getting cut. Carroll typically likes linebackers who have a thick build, and Gainer is more lanky at 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds. For comparison, Eichenberg is only a couple of pounds heavier than Gainer, but he\u2019s an inch shorter to have a more compact and stout build.<\/p>\n

Q: Is Ian Thomas a lock to make the team? Whether or not he is, what other tight ends might make the team beyond Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer?<\/p>\n

A: \u201cLock\u201d might be a little strong, but I\u2019d be surprised if Thomas doesn\u2019t make the roster.<\/p>\n

Carter Runyon is an interesting tight end to keep tabs on<\/a>. He\u2019s had five catches for 62 yards in the first two preseason games and is a solid blocker. It\u2019s more likely that Runyon ends up on the practice squad, but he could be a sneaky pick to make the roster next Tuesday with a good performance in Arizona.<\/p>\n

Q: Why all the love for Zeus? I\u2019m not seeing it. I\u2019d keep Dylan Laube and Chris Collier, along with Ashton Jeanty and Raheem Mostert. How about you?<\/p>\n

\"LAS<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 16: Zamir White #3 of the Las Vegas Raiders hugs head coach Pete Carroll during warm up against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFL Preseason 2025 game at Allegiant Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 49ers defeated the Raiders 22-19. (Photo by Candice Ward\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

A: That\u2019s another one I don\u2019t quite get, either. I think the staff likes Zamir White as the downhill\/power back to complement Mostert as the perimeter run\/speed back.<\/p>\n

But if it were up to me, I\u2019d keep Jeanty, Mostert, Laube and Sincere McCormick at running back. It was a small sample size last year, but McCormick was really impressive with his vision and natural running skills. It seems like he\u2019s going to get cut, which is unfortunate because I think he has the potential to be a well-rounded back.<\/p>\n

Q: I\u2019m pretty impressed with Dalton Wagner this year. Any chance he beats out Thayer Munford (who doesn\u2019t appear to have improved) for the swing tackle position?<\/p>\n

A: Wagner is an impressive run blocker but struggles in pass protection, earning a 2.4 PFF grade<\/a> (your eyes aren\u2019t deceiving you, that\u2019s two-point-four, not 24) last week. He also turns 27 in October, so I have a hard time seeing him make the team.<\/p>\n

I completely agree that Munford doesn\u2019t look like he\u2019s gotten any better this year. The problem is the Raiders are young at offensive tackle, and Charles Grant, who was drafted as a project, isn\u2019t ready to be thrown into the fire. So, I\u2019d imagine Munford has a roster spot because the coaching staff doesn\u2019t want to only have inexperienced tackles to turn to if Kolton Miller or DJ Glaze get injured.<\/p>\n

Q: Who do you want for the Raiders\u2019 5th or 6th receiver? I like #4.<\/p>\n

A: I know Tommy Mellott hasn\u2019t done much in the preseason, but I\u2019d be a little surprised if he doesn\u2019t make the team. Mellott offers special teams value, and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon was a big fan of his game during the draft process. McMahon is a good guy to have in your corner if you\u2019re on the roster bubble.<\/p>\n

For that sixth spot, I\u2019m with you on Shedrick Jackson with how he played against the Seahawks. I think it will come down to Jackson, Alex Bachman and Collin Johnson. Saturday night could be the deciding factor.<\/p>\n

A: I think Isaiah Pola-Mao has potential, but he worries me as the starting free safety. Pola-Mao isn\u2019t reliable in man coverage, which isn\u2019t a requirement for a free safety, but the tackling issues are a problem. We\u2019ll see how it works out, but I share your concerns about the secondary, and Pola-Mao is included in that.<\/p>\n

The defensive backfield is a collection of a lot of young, talented players who need time to develop. However, a lot of those guys are going to be thrown into starting roles. As a result, the Raiders could have a hard time defending the pass this season.<\/p>\n

That\u2019ll do it for this week\u2019s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you\u2019d like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95<\/a>, email them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com<\/a> or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.<\/p>\n

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