It’s pretty simple once you look at the big picture, if you’re Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco: do you trade up (mortgaging the future in the process) or stick with Aidan O’Connell one more year?
When looking at the AFC West landscape, the Raiders are probably a step above the Denver Broncos in terms of the quarterback dilemma. However, ahead of them, the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers are in better shape (arguably). What the Raiders certainly have going for them is that they might possibly have the best defense this season when it’s all said and done. Even still, you need to address the quarterback situation.
Avoid a trade—go all in on getting AOC max protection by investing top-end draft capital on the O-line. Or, if you’re certain that Jayden Daniels (yes, we know) can be your franchise-altering signal-caller, you pull the trigger.
The latter is easier said than done. Right?
A path to Jayden Daniels for the Raiders is opening up…
Pro Football Focus recently mentioned that O’Connell would be a smart route, considering some of the holes still plaguing this roster. Be that as it may, the New England Patriots, who own the No. 3 pick overall, made waves this week. Eliot Wolf, the team’s shotcaller in the post-Bill Belichick era, shocked the NFL world by stating that they are “open for business” with regard to the NFL Draft.
“We’re open to anything, moving up, moving down, we’re open for business in the first round and in every round. We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft, and we’re a draft-and-develop team. The more picks we have, the better. But if there’s an opportunity to move up and strike if the board kind of recommends it, then we won’t be afraid to pull the trigger on that either.”
There you have it, folks. This could be the opening that the Raiders were waiting for. Let’s face it, there was no way that the Chicago Bears were passing on Caleb Williams (the obvious first pick), and while the Washington Commanders will likely lean towards taking a quarterback, the possibility of landing Daniels is for the taking. Mind you, it won’t be cheap.
*Top Photo: Getty Images
