As the 2024 NFL Draft looms on the horizon, speculations around potential draft picks are heating up, particularly surrounding the top quarterbacks in the draft.
One of those quarterbacks is Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels from LSU.
Daniels has caught the attention of numerous NFL teams, including none other than the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jayden Daniels already looks like a Raider👀 pic.twitter.com/7iit86ejUb
— vegas (@vegastiming) January 8, 2024
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that the Raiders, holding the 13th pick in the draft, are closely eyeing Daniels as a potential addition to their roster.
Fowler emphasized the connection between Daniels and the Raiders new head coach, Antonio Pierce, hinting at a possible reunion for the duo.
“The Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) might be a team to watch. New coach Antonio Pierce is a big fan of Daniels from their days together at Arizona State, and word is that Pierce evaluated offensive coordinators with the loose possibility of Daniels in mind.”
Las Vegas Raiders Antonio Pierce was announced as Head Coach.
A player to watch for the Raiders is Jayden Daniels in the NFL Draft. Pierce was a coach on staff at Arizona State while Daniels was there. pic.twitter.com/iEgpf20o7y
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) January 20, 2024
Pierce’s admiration for Daniels stems from their time together at Arizona State, where they presumably developed a strong rapport.
The prospect of reuniting in the professional arena appears to intrigue both parties, sparking further interest in the Raiders’ pursuit of the talented quarterback.
The Raiders quest for a new signal-caller comes as no surprise, given the underwhelming performances of their quarterbacks in the previous season.
With Jimmy Garoppolo losing his starting position midseason and rookie Aidan O’Connell showing inconsistent results, the team struggled to find stability in the pivotal role.
REPORT: #Raiders Superstar WR Davante Adams speaks very highly of Heisman winning QB Jayden Daniels.
"I paid attention to Jayden Daniels. He's good, tough.. He won the Heisman so he's a great player… I think he can come in and be a decent player."
pic.twitter.com/Qalgfgxrmb— NFLCentral (@NFLTrenchBattle) January 19, 2024
In 2023, Raiders quarterbacks collectively managed just 20 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions, highlighting the pressing need for a reliable and dynamic leader under center.
The prospect of drafting Daniels presents an opportunity for the franchise to revitalize its offense and chart a new course for success.
Notably, the Raiders haven’t used a first-round pick in a quarterback since 2007 when they selected JaMarcus Russell, who failed to live up to expectations to say the least.
However, with Daniels’ exceptional talent and potential, the team could be poised to break that pattern and usher in a new era of “excellence” under Pierce.
The Raiders have never drafted a quarterback that won the Heisman Trophy….
Could Jayden Daniels be the first? pic.twitter.com/9HTFHdaqBG
— Raiding The Kingdom🎙 (@RaidTheKingdom) December 12, 2023
What are your thoughts on Daniels as an NFL prospect?
Should the Raiders trade up to grab him?
Quarterback is obviously the most important position to address for AP and the Raiders – but what else do they need to do to turn Vegas into a true contender???