With most of the “can’t-miss” quarterback prospects off the board in this possible mock scenario, will Antonio Pierce and the Las Vegas Raiders need to settle for their next signal-caller? Unless the team’s brass works out a major trade, Raider Nation might need to quell their expectations.
The talk of the town has been whether new general manager Tom Telesco should trade up in the draft. Historically, Telesco did very little of that in his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. However, Telesco is coming into a situation where the quarterback position is far from settled; in fact, you could argue the need for a “franchise” signal-caller should be his top priority. Still, the team might not move in the first round, meaning that fans should prepare themselves adequately.
Raiders Mock Draft: Reloading The Offense
Round 1: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington
With the Senior Bowl underway down in Mobile, Raiders scouts will have a first-hand account of Penix. In terms of college production, the former Washington Huskie had an impressive run while it lasted. Throwing for 64 touchdowns the last couple of seasons is no easy feat, with a completion percentage of 65.6 to boot. While Penix isn’t what you would classify as a running quarterback, he did manage to score seven times on the ground.
First look at Michael Penix Jr. at the @seniorbowl. Possible QB target for the @Raiders? pic.twitter.com/Vl7yELhHwO
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) January 30, 2024
Even though Raiders fans largely base their opinions on his final collegiate performance, Penix is much more than just one game. Possessing some of the best field vision of any quarterback prospect, he’ll deliver a deep strike downfield just as accurately as anyone coming out of this class. All the same, Penix can squeeze those tight passes in the toughest of coverages—that’ll only improve with proper direction in the NFL. It’ll certainly help him to have Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers as his top options out of the gate.
Round 2: Tyler Guyton, OT, Oklahoma
Tyler Guyton is already making waves in the early goings of the Senior Bowl. If the Oklahoma product does indeed drop into the second round, the Raiders would be fools to pass it up. Sitting at a towering six-foot-seven, 328 pounds, Guyton could be an instant impact-level addition to the Raiders; it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that he’d be an immediate starting right tackle.
#Oklahoma RT Tyler Guyton has been absolutely sensational all day in one on ones. Best tackle in Mobile today as a pass protector.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 30, 2024
In college, Guyton displayed remarkable strength, which is no surprise. Moreover, he was an immovable object, showing notable anchor abilities and neutralizing opposing bull rushes. Still, there are some concerns, most notable being his lack of snaps at right tackle. Still, his physical gifts might outweigh his being “green” compared to other prospects.
Round 3: Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
This might be a hard one to stomach for some Raiders fans, namely due to their allegiance to Josh Jacobs. While that’s commendable, the fact is, paying big money for running backs just isn’t smart these days. If No. 8 is indeed unwilling to take a pay cut to play for Antonio Pierce, going with Trey Benson could be a no-brainer.
As a fringe second-round talent, Benson could fall right into the Raiders’ lap in the third round. Speaking in terms of talent, he’s one of the most versatile athletes available in this year’s class. As a patient runner, Benson is great at displaying patience, waiting for his O-line to open up lanes and clear the way. At the same time, he’s plenty explosive in generating his own plays if need be. He’ll make incoming defenders miss with ease—by doing so, he consistently showed in college an ability to break away for runs of 15 or more yards.
Despite his questionable pass-catching abilities, Benson would complement Zamir White well, forming a formidable one-two punch.
Raiders Mock Draft: Rebuilding The Offense In The First Two Rounds