The Las Vegas Raiders are facing a quarterback dilemma after parting ways with their long-time quarterback, Derek Carr, last year. They tried to fill the vacancy by recruiting successful veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and drafting rookie Aidan O’Connell. However, with Garoppolo likely to be released and O’Connell playing often uninspiring football, the Raiders need to find a quarterback.
While the Raiders aren’t committed to Aidan O’Connell, they haven’t said he can’t be the guy in 2024. Antonio Pierce has made it clear the Raiders are going to bring in competition for O’Connell. Multiple veteran quarterbacks have been linked to the Raiders so the future of the position is unknown. The best and most likely scenario is the Raiders trying to draft their franchise guy. Whether they do it via trade-up or staying at pick 13 is to be seen. With multiple studs in this year’s class, the Raiders need to find the best fit for their new-look offense.
Best Fits for the Raiders at Quarterback in the Draft
Jayden Daniels
If the Raiders had the opportunity to choose any quarterback in this year’s draft, they would undoubtedly select the Heisman-winning quarterback.
The Raiders have made it clear that they want to team up with Jayden Daniels at the next level. Antonio Pierce was the recruiting coordinator at Arizona State when Daniels was a player there. During his Heisman speech, Daniels thanked Pierce and later joined the Raiders in the locker room after their Week 18 win. Pierce admires Daniels both as a person and as a player.
The new offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, did not have a great few seasons with Justin Fields. Although Fields and Daniels are not identical, they are both talented dual-threat quarterbacks. The Raiders will have to trade up to acquire Daniels, but it seems likely that a reunion is on the horizon.
Full Jayden Daniels Scouting Report
Bo Nix
What makes the Oregon star quarterback so intriguing to the Raiders is the Luke Getsy offense contains a lot of what Nix did at Oregon. Getsy will be able to use Bo Nix in the play-action game not having to ask much of Nix every down.
Nix has the rocket arm to hit on deep shots but Getsy will also mix screens in to alleviate the pressure off the young quarterback. Nix is a dual-threat quarterback who thinks pass first instead of run. He has over the years been better with his awareness in the pocket and decision making. Nix has started to limit the costly errors and play a safer brand of football.
The Raiders will not have to trade up in the draft to get Nix most likely which would help save the picks to surround him with more talent. He isn’t the flashiest option but he does have franchise quarterback upside with the talent and experience to start week one and win games in the right system.
Michael Penix Jr.
The Heisman runner-up could be the ideal candidate to run the Luke Getsy offense in Vegas. Penix recently led his Washington Huskies to the National Championship. Pierce has expressed a desire to both run and throw the ball deep. This makes Penix the perfect fit for what Pierce seems to desire.
Out of all the quarterbacks in this class, Penix probably has the best deep ball accuracy. He is consistently pushing the ball downfield. Getsy would be trading out the super athlete Justin Fields, who played for him at his last stop, for an average athlete with elite downfield throwing mechanics. The Raiders might hope that a new quarterback playstyle benefits Getsy.
However, Penix’s injury history and age could scare the Raiders away; he will be a 24-year-old rookie who has already had four fairly serious injuries. He would fit in well with the Raiders having an elite supporting cast to get the ball to. Penix has all the qualities to be the perfect player for this offense, but he will still need some fine-tuning and time to learn how to play in the Getsy Offense.
Full Michael Penix, Jr. Scouting Report
J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy has climbed draft boards lately, and it’s well-deserved. At just 21 years old, he led the Michigan Wolverines to a championship in 2024. Unlike Penix and Washington, who preferred to pass, McCarthy and Michigan leaned towards running the ball, which may have hidden his potential as a passer. Nonetheless, he possesses all the qualities of a franchise quarterback and has already won a national championship.
The Raiders probably won’t trade up to get McCarthy, so they can save on draft capital like they would with Nix and Penix. McCarthy can do exactly what Pierce wants – run the ball and execute it at a high level. He’s a tough player and a great leader, but he might need some time to develop and learn from a seasoned veteran. Despite that, McCarthy has all the potential in the world and could become one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Full J.J. McCarthy Scouting Report
Final Thoughts
The Raiders have a crucial decision to make at quarterback and it could make or break Anotnio Pierce’s career. Several players are generating a lot of buzz at the moment to be the Raiders’ future franchise quarterback. However, each player has their own set of strengths and weaknesses, which leaves more questions than answers at the moment. Antonio Pierce is going to build off the momentum he gained last season by playing hard against every opponent. This offseason, Luke Getsy, Tom Telesco, and Antonio Pierce have their work cut out for them as they search for a franchise quarterback who can compete with the talented quarterbacks in the AFC.
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