Three teams in need of quarterbacks will kick off the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday, with the Chicago Bears at No. 1 overall, the Washington Commanders at No. 2 and the New York Patriots -England at No. 3. have received sales calls about their choices, but no one has yet offered an attractive enough offer.
The Commanders showed no indication that they would move up from second place overall, by NFL Mediaand one team that reportedly tried to trade this pick was the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders have Aidan O’Connell on the roster, and they also signed Gardner Minshew in free agency. However, Vegas is still looking for a quarterback. ESPN’s Matt Miller reported that he heard the Raiders really like Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., and could select him 13th overall.
Penix was expected to be the fifth quarterback selected Thursday night, but the Raiders wanted to take the first quarterback behind Caleb Williams. Who is/was Vegas interested in? It’s most likely reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels of LSU.
Daniels and Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce spent three years together at Arizona State before going their separate ways – Pierce to the Raiders and Daniels to LSU. Last season, Daniels won the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and just four interceptions, and rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. He recorded the highest single-season passer efficiency in FBS history (208.0), led the FBS in total yards per game (412.2) and total touchdowns per game (4.2 ), and led all FBS quarterbacks in yards per attempt (11.7) and passing yards. by rush (8.4).
The Raiders could still be a candidate for a quarterback trade on draft night. The Minnesota Vikings have an additional first-round pick to use in trade talks and could potentially move into the top five. The rival Denver Broncos make their first selection just one pick ahead of the Raiders at 12th overall.
