Gardner Minshew making a difference for the Raiders while the Jaguars struggle

For a brief moment in 2020, it looked like Gardner Minshew could be the franchise quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, he couldn't seize the opportunity and was shipped out of town after the Jags drafted Trevor Lawrence. While Minshew has experienced plenty of ups and downs throughout his career, he's currently riding high after leading the Las Vegas Raiders to their first win of the 2024 NFL season.

The former Washington State Cougar led the Raiders to a comeback win in Week 2, beating the Baltimore Ravens 26-23. Although he struggled early on, his team never lost confidence in him. After struggling in the first half, he was approached by star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who told him it was time to start playing like a big boy.

That's all the motivation Minshew needed to lead Las Vegas to a win. He completed 78.9 percent of his passes for 276 yards with a touchdown.

But as impressive as the mustachioed quarterback was against the Ravens, his production for the year is even more impressive. Right now, his completion percentage rate of 77.5 percent leads the NFL. Similarly, his 55 completions are a league-best. If that wasn't enough, he ranks second among all quarterbacks with 533 passing yards.

It's early in the season but it looks like the Raiders got a steal when they gave Minshew a two-year deal worth $25 million with $15 million guaranteed in free agency. Looking back, it's kind of puzzling that the Las Vegas coaching staff had him compete with sophomore Aidan O'Connell for the starting job. After all, the 2019 sixth-round pick had previously shown he's a capable quarterback.

Even though Minshew struggled in his last season with the Jags, and has bounced around the NFL, he's played well when he's been given a chance. Last year, for instance, he kept the Indianapolis Colts in the thick of the playoff race when Anthony Richardson went down early in the season.

The Jaguars have a keeper in Trevor Lawrence but Gardner Minshew has come into his own

Back in 2019, Gardner Minshew filled in for an underwhelming Nick Foles and never looked back, taking the league by storm. Following a promising rookie campaign, he was given an opportunity to show he could be the long-term answer behind center in Jacksonville. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to build off of his early success and came crashing down. In his defense, he didn't have a great supporting cast. Still, he wasn't part of the solution.

Then, the Jaguars clinched the first overall pick in 2021 and they weren't going to pass up the chance to select Trevor Lawrence, a generational talent. That made Minshew expendable.

Wanting a chance to compete for a starting job, Minshew requested a trade. It was eventually granted to him. However, he only got half his wish, as he spent two seasons as a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles. At the same time, Lawrence experienced plenty of ups and downs and has yet to solidify himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

Make no mistake, the Jacksonville Jaguars were right to move on from Gardner Minshew. His departure paved the way for Trevor Lawrence to be the guy. That said, it's interesting to think what would've happened if they had kept Minshew and taken another route in the 2021 draft. Maybe if the Jags had given him a receiver like Ja'Marr Chase or an offensive tackle of Penei Sewell's caliber, his stint in Jacksonville would've lasted longer.

Ultimately, the Jags are pleased enough with Lawrence that they gave him a top-market contract in the offseason that makes him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league. On the other hand, Minshew has come along nicely, so you could call it a win-win situation, even if Jacksonville is currently struggling.

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