Raiders are exploring many options to improve their quarterback.
Yes, we were all privy to the Las Vegas Raiders coach referring to youngster Aidan O’Connell as his “BFF” following his promotion and benching of veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. At the conclusion of the season, the coach stated that O’Connell had demonstrated enough in his nine-game trial to be considered for a starting position moving ahead.
However, Pierce made it very plain that the Raiders need to get a quarterback when he was sleuthing around Radio Row prior to last week’s Super Bowl.
Guys, don’t build bridges. Remove all bandages. Journeymen not present. A true franchise quarterback to build and nurture the Raiders’ resurrected culture and aura around.
Pierce recently stated, “Whatever quarterback we go with, we’re going out there and we’re whooping ass,” on the “The Pivot” podcast, which is hosted by ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark.
The top three quarterback prospects, however, will most likely be gone long before the Raiders are set to select. They own the 13th overall pick in the draft. The Raiders want a quarterback, but how do they acquire one and who may that player be?
Since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, the Raiders have only three times used a first-round draft pick on a quarterback: Marc Wilson in 1980, Todd Marinovich in 1991, and JaMarcus Russell in 2007. As a result, the Raiders are not renowned for selecting quarterbacks early in the process.
However, Pierce is related to Jayden Daniels, the Heisman Trophy winner from LSU, who acknowledged Pierce during his December award speech. Their relationship dates back many years, to the time Pierce enrolled Daniels at Arizona State, his first college visit.
Indeed, Daniels was present in the Raiders’ locker room following their heartwarming victory over the Denver Broncos in the season finale, lending Pierce some encouragement and, well, love.
A few weeks ago, when it looked like Kliff Kingsbury would be the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, the general consensus was that Kingsbury, who served as Caleb Williams’ position coach at USC the previous season and was the 2022 Heisman winner, had inside knowledge of how to get Williams to Las Vegas. Kingsbury, on the other hand, veered off course and ran for the No. 2 choice, the Washington Commanders.
Just a coincidence?
Right now, it would be quite expensive to move up from No. 13 into the top 3 in order to choose Drake Maye of North Carolina, Williams, or Daniels. Particularly considering that the quarterback position may be contested by the three teams at the top of the draft—the Chicago Bears, Commanders, and New England Patriots.
Tom Telesco, the new general manager of the Raiders who spent the previous 11 seasons as the general manager of the Los Angeles Chargers, may find the expense prohibitive.
Think about this: During his time with the Chargers, Telesco only moved up once in the first round, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Moreover, it was not a good moment for a quarterback since he moved up to choose running back Melvin Gordon III in 2015 by moving from No. 17 to No. 15, and again in 2020 by moving back into the first round to select linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr.
And that’s it.
And it would seem like a Herculean endeavor to climb at least ten slots in April, perhaps requiring the relocation of one or two elite players.
