Who Should I Start? Aidan O'Connell or Jalen Milroe

Friday, April 11, 12:07 PM

The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Geno Smith to a two-year, $75 million contract extension this offseason, but it's extremely team-friendly, and The Athletic's Vic Tafur thinks bringing in a young QB in this year's NFL draft to learn behind Smith makes sense. Tafur also thinks the Raiders might trade backup Aidan O'Connell on draft weekend. The Raiders have a clear out with Smith after 2026, as they guaranteed only $18.5 of his $26.5 million 2026 salary, and none of the $39.5 million he's due to make in 2027. Minority owner Tom Brady likes the idea of rookie QBs sitting and learning, and the Raiders will have some interesting options later in the draft in what is considered a down year for QBs. Tafur doesn't think it makes much sense to take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 6 overall, and a good number of QBs could be off the board by the team's second pick at No. 37 overall.

Wednesday, May 28, 1:51 PM

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said that rookie third-round quarterback Jalen Milroe will not be used in the same fashion as New Orleans Saints hybrid player Taysom Hill. Sam Darnold is the unquestioned starter under center for the Seahawks entering the 2025 season, and the plan is for Milroe to earn a chance to play in Year 1, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. The 22-year-old's role might become clearer as the team mixed in rookies with veterans during organized team activities this offseason. A two-QB system with specific packages for Milroe will take some time to fine-tune. It remains to be seen what kind of packages Milroe will be involved in, but they could be in red-zone and short-yardage situations. Either way, Milroe isn't going to have much fantasy value in redraft leagues as the backup to Darnold in 2025.