Aidan O’Connell has opened the preseason with ugly turnover numbers, and questions about whether he’s taken the next step into NFL starter potential loom as he heads into year three. The Raiders have him pegged as Geno Smith’s backup for 2025, raising concerns about their QB2 depth if Smith were to miss time. O’Connell’s Week 1 picks against Seattle and Week 2 misfires versus San Francisco underline a bigger issue: speed and decision-making from the huddle to the snap remain inconsistent. The throw that drew Rich Gannon’s ire is emblematic: covered target, defender parked in front, no margin for error. Yet there are brighter notes in preseason, as rookie Cam Miller flashed in two games, hinting at potential on-field upside if development continues. The backdrop is the Raiders’ desire to keep Miller as a developmental project while preserving O’Connell as a steady if imperfect reserve.

From Seattle’s sideline, Pete Carroll pointed to the Raiders’ signal-caller’s pace as a core problem—imperfect cadence translates to slower tempo and more uncertain reads. The GM booth’s John Spytek was present for at least one pick, but his stance offered no fireworks. The unsettled dynamic in Las Vegas is clear: O’Connell remains the default QB2, Cam Miller has intrigue, and Seattle’s depth chart remains a short-term concern for fantasy rosters until clearer roles emerge. In fantasy terms, early-season exposure to O’Connell’s back-end potential carries risk, with Miller’s bursts offering speculative upside for those willing to chase upside late in drafts.