Another edition of the Monday Morning Mock Draft is here, Raider Nation. The quarterback debate continues to gain steam for the Las Vegas Raiders and their fanbase. The answer wasn’t Jimmy Garoppolo, and whether Aidan O’Connell is the solution remains to be seen. However, the other aspect is whether Antonio Pierce will have the interim tag removed from his job title. If that’s the case, maybe the Raiders can reunite Pierce with a quarterback he’s familiar with.
As of this published date, the Raiders are slated to pick outside of the top 10. That, unfortunately, puts them out of reach for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. Still, that doesn’t mean the Silver and Black can’t walk away from next year’s NFL draft with a franchise-altering signal-caller.
2024 Raiders Mock Draft: You Need A QB, Right?
The problem with mock drafts slating quarterbacks to the Raiders is that we don’t know the long-term vision for the team. The team’s top brass (head coach and general manager) are in interim mode; in other words, who will they want? Assuming it’s “them” or a new regime, the quarterback question looms heavy either way.
Jayden Daniels, Quarterback, LSU
As many Raiders fans might know, Daniels once played at Arizona State prior to leading the LSU Tigers. While playing in the state of Arizona, Daniels was on the same squad where Pierce was a defensive assistant under Herm Edwards. If anyone has first-hand knowledge of Daniels, it would definitely be Pierce. That’s not the end-all-be-all, but it goes a long way toward the scouting part of the drafting process.
As far as Daniel brings, his athletic gifts are ones to marvel at. Namely, his rushing ability—his speed and quickness—allows him to move in and out of the pocket, allowing his receivers to gain separation and make those big throws downfield. That’s something that the Raiders desperately need.
Let’s talk about this throw … Jayden Daniels put this ball perfectly between two defenders pic.twitter.com/BWiBghnwGW
— The B-U-N™ (@BayouBun) November 6, 2022
The next generation of NFL quarterbacks is here: Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud, and Jalen Hurts. The days of statue-like signal-callers are quickly becoming extinct. Isn’t it time the Raiders have their own?
No one’s saying Daniels is the next Lamar Jackson, but it’s an apt comparison—he consistently broke free and gained yards—your prototypical dual threat guy. However, he’s more than just a one-trick pony. As you can see from the throw above, Daniel’s accuracy is no joke. He’s also careful with the ball; his mistakes are few and in between—he only threw seven interceptions during the last two years alone.
While there are concerns with his field vision, this is something that might improve with time. He normally sticks to his first, sometimes second, read. Luckily for Daniels, he’d have Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Renfrow. If the Raiders want a younger option compared to Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr., Daniels is your guy.
*Top Photo: CBS Sports
Reuniting Antonio Pierce With Jayden Daniels: A Plausible Raiders Scenario