Raiders agree to deals with QB Gardner Minshew, defensive tackle Christian Wilkins

HENDERSON, Nev. – The Las Vegas Raiders were busy on the first day teams were allowed to negotiate with free agents, agreeing to contracts Monday with quarterback Gardner Minshew and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

Minshew agreed to a twoyear, $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the contract said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the first day contracts can be signed is Wednesday when the new league year begins.

Wilkins agreed to a fouryear, $110 contract with $84.75 million guaranteed, agent David Mulugheta said.

The Raiders announced they had re-signed center Andre James. He has been on the club since signing in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA. The 26-year-old James has been the starter since 2021.

Minshew, 27, is expected to compete with Aidan O’connell to be the starting quarterback. O’connell became the midseason starter last year, and the Raiders went 5-4 after he took over.

But O’connell acknowledged after the season ended that he expected to fight for the position next season.

“There hasn’t been a lot of years I’ve been the unquestioned starter going in, so I’m used to competing,” O’connell said at the time. “I had to compete to get to this spot that I’m in. I also think it would be right to have competition in this league. It’s the NFL. It’s the best of the best, so it’s my job to try to keep my job.”

The Raiders, who pick 13th, could still draft a quarterback this year. Signing Minshew could allow the club to bring a rookie along slowly rather than ask him to play right away, especially because the top available quarterbacks likely will be gone by the time Las Vegas’ turn in the draft comes, barring a trade up.