For the Las Vegas Raiders and quarterback Gardner Minshew, the writing was on the wall for the longest time.
After injuries cut his disappointing season short, Minshew immediately became one of the easiest release candidates to determine. Add to that the interest the Raiders have already shown to free agents and draft prospects at quarterback, and it was clear Minshew was never going to see the second year of the deal he signed last offseason. It felt like a matter of when, not if, the Raiders pulled the trigger on the move.
On Wednesday, the other shoe finally dropped.
The Raiders are expected to release Minshew when the new league year starts on March 12.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders have informed the veteran that they will release him, saving $6.34 million against the cap.
The #Raiders informed QB Gardner Minshew they’ll release him when the new league year begins next Wednesday, per sources.
Minshew has 46 career starts and is still only 28 years old. An experienced option available. pic.twitter.com/m9xZLzeK7l
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 5, 2025
Releasing Minshew moves the Raiders into nine figures of available cap space, with the savings on the veteran pushing the team to $101.6 million. The team is still second in cap space to the New England Patriots, who come into the offseason with $127.5 million in available cap space. Even though some of it will have to be saved for the upcoming draft class, the Raiders figure to be active in free agency with the funds at their disposal.
With Minshew now moving on, Aidan O’Connell and Carter Bradley are the only two quarterbacks currently on the Raiders roster for 2025.
The moves only adds credence to the perceived interest the Raiders have in numerous quarterback options. They have been heavily linked to top free agents such as Sam Darnold, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The team also met top draft prospects like Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders at the NFL Combine, leaving the door open for one of them to join with no risk of creating a logjam.
Minshew will likely attract interest as a backup and spot starter option, but this move was too obvious for the Raiders to ignore.
Potential quarterback draftees for Raiders come with red flags
Maxx Crosby voices support for candidate in Raiders quarterback search
