Will the Raiders release Jimmy Garoppolo this season?

Jimmy Garoppolo signed a three-year deal with the Raiders this offseason.

Will the Raiders release Jimmy Garoppolo this season?

Jimmy Garoppolo (via Imago)

The Las Vegas Raiders are in dire straits now. They got rid of their head coach Josh McDaniels and GM David Ziegler on the same day, at the same time. The team then announced that backup QB Aidan O’Connell would take the field instead of Jimmy Garoppolo in their next game against the New York Giants. Garoppolo has had a bad start to the season and is now in danger of losing his place in the starting lineup.

Now the question is, will the Raiders release Garoppolo this season? A similar scenario unfolded last year for the Raiders with QB Derek Carr. The quarterback was benched late in the season. The Raiders needed Carr to pass a physical before his injury-guaranteed money became fully guaranteed. They eventually ended up releasing him after the season.

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Garoppolo signed a three-year, $67 million deal with the Raiders earlier in the offseason. However, he’s revised contract removed any incentive to let him go now. As originally decided, Garoppolo had an $11.25 million base salary for the 2024 season. It was guaranteed only for injuries. The contract also included a $11.25 million roster bonus that became fully guaranteed on the fifth day.

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The contract was revised when Garoppolo failed his physical. That $11.25 million base salary for next season became fully guaranteed money. It also removed any guarantee for next year’s roster bonus. The Raiders can release Garoppolo after the season and avoid the $11.25 million roster bonus. The Raiders have two options. They can either cut him and save some money or pay him the full amount and keep him on the roster. Tough decisions lie ahead for the Las Vegas-based team.

Garoppolo so far this season has recorded more interceptions than touchdowns. In the Raiders’ last game against the Detroit Lions, Garoppolo threw for just 126 yards and had one interception. Las Vegas lost that game 26-14.

Aidan O’Connell replaces Jimmy Garoppolo as the starting quarterback moving forward

After firing the HC and the GM on Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders are making changes to their starting lineup. Jimmy Garoppolo, who was brought in this offseason to replace Derek Carr, will warm the bench going forward. It was announced that rookie QB Aidan O’Connell will be the team’s starting quarterback against the New York Giants this week. He is expected to continue for the rest of the season.

Jimmy Garoppolo (L) and Aidan O'Connell (R)
Jimmy Garoppolo (L – via NBC Sports) and Aidan O’Connell (R – via Bleacher Report)

O’Connell was drafted in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He made his first career start against the Los Angeles Chargers in week 4. The rookie had a great completing 24 of his 39 pass attempts for 238 yards and one interception. The Raiders though, lost the game 24-17.

The Raiders are 3-5 through eight weeks of the season. The team fired HC Josh McDaniels and GM David Ziegler on Tuesday. There’s a lot of change happening in Las Vegas, but they hope that it will turn out for the better.

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