Gardner Minshew II DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Free-agent quarterback Gardner Minshew II reached a two-year agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news. The amount of the deal has yet to be disclosed. Just one season after the Las Vegas Raiders inked Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract, he'll join his fifth squad after being selected by Jacksonville in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. With the release of former Chief Carson Wentz, the 28-year-old Minshew will slot in as the backup to new starter Patrick Mahomes. The Washington State product never panned out consistently as a starter. Still, he's one of the better second-string options in the league and provides a skillset similar to Mahomes with his mobility. Kansas City has yet to make a groundbreaking acquisition in 2025, but they've picked up some essential depth pieces.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew II will be released by the organization when the new league year begins on March 12, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 28-year-old signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Raiders last offseason but is headed out after just one year. Since being selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Washington State, Minshew has thrown for 11,950 yards, 68 touchdowns, and 34 interceptions in 59 game appearances with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Raiders. He is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL, so he will likely draw plenty of interest on the open free-agent market.

The Athletic's Tashan Reed writes that quarterback Gardner Minshew II was terrible in 10 appearances in 2024 and won't be in the Las Vegas Raiders' plans at quarterback in 2025. The Raider will free up only $3 million in salary cap space this year while taking a dead-money hit of $10.82 million if they cut him, according to Spotrac. However, if they make him a post-June 1 cut, they'll save $6 million in cap space, with the dead-money hit spread across the next two years -- $7.82 million in 2025 and $3 million in 2026. With Minshew likely being cut this offseason, Aidan O'Connell would be the team's clear starter heading into next season, but the Raiders could draft a new signal-caller, sign one on the open market or trade for someone. Minshew was a first-time Pro Bowler in 2023 with the Colts but threw nine TDs and 10 interceptions in Vegas in 2024 and will be a backup option for anyone that picks him up.