Raiders TE Michael Mayer gives QB Aidan O'Connell high praise

Justin Churchill — College Football & NFL Trending News Writer

Aug 23, 2023 8:17 PM EDT

The Las Vegas Raiders are starting to rise up and are catching everyone's attention. Remember when everyone said the Raiders were a team you basically didn't need to watch? Now, all of the national media guys are switching up their takes.

There is a huge reason why, too. The play by their rookies and offseason additions have made people catch on. Mainly, it's been the addition of Aidan O'Connell and how he has played like an elite quarterback. This is the preseason, but, man, O'Connell has looked great.

Sure, he is doing it on the field, making all of the throws and not making mistakes. But he is also doing all the right things regarding the huddle, the locker room, and practice.

Raiders O'Connell is building chemistry by doing all the right things

O'Connell isn't the only rookie showing some incredible things. Tight end Michael Mayer is as well. Mayer had a play against the Rams where he didn't even get the ball passed to him, but his route and speed were so impressive. As a tight end, he blew right past the cornerback who was guarding him.

But, if you ask Mayer how O'Connell's been, it's nothing but praise across the board.

"I've been very impressed with him. His composure is something that I've never really seen before, and in a rookie that just got here. He's got great composure," Mayer said on Tuesday. "He's got great control when you're in the huddle with him.

"You can hear him clearly, you know what he's saying, and he's got that confidence in his voice and that confidence in the way he's standing and being in the huddle that you know we're going to make this thing work. This is our play; this is what we're doing right here; focus right now, and do the best on this play you can. And he doesn't panic. He could throw a pick; he doesn't panic. And that's what I love about him, and that's what you really want out of a quarterback, too."

The way Mayer talks about his eventual quarterback, it seems they could already have some chemistry. That's what you want in your young nucleus, too, even if one of them in O'Connell may not even play in 2023.

Hopefully, and they can, they will develop a dangerous chemistry in the league. Either way, Mayer has looked great, and he talks highly of O'Connell. The Raiders just might have a bright future on their hands.