SAD REPORT: i want to leave, Raiders key man insist.

Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, and speculation about a rookie signal caller are gobbling up the attention and headlines when it comes to the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback position. And for good reason.

O’Connell is the incumbent as a fourth-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft and has the belief of head coach Antonio Pierce. Minshew is the new free agent addition inking a two-year $25-million contract ($15 million guaranteed with a $6 million signing bonus) who comes from the Indianapolis Colts. And of course the rampant rumor mill on the Raiders eyeing and potentially drafting a prospect in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

The forgotten name: Anthony Brown Jr.

Not familiar with Brown? It’s easy to forget about the former University of Oregon quarterback.

The 25-year-old signed a reserve/futures contract with Las Vegas amongst a slew of other players shortly after the 2023 campaign ended on Jan. 8. Brown’s NFL career has predominantly been as a practice squad player for the Baltimore Ravens. He signed with the team after going undrafted in 2022 and yo-yoed from active to taxi squad before getting released in September of 2023. Brown only has one career start under his name (two career games played): A Week 16 contest where the Ravens lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 27-16. Brown went 19 of 44 (43.18 percent) for 286 yards with zero touchdowns, two interceptions, while absorbing four sacks. The other action he saw that season was going 3 for 5 (60 percent) for 16 yards in a brief Week 12 appearance in the Ravens’ 16-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Which begs the question: Can Brown get into the quarterback competition mix in Las Vegas? The answer: Perhaps.