Tag: Raiders news

With the NFL Draft just hours away, the buzz surrounding the top quarterbacks is getting even juicier. There have been rumblings for months now that the Raiders would love to reunite Antonio Pierce with Jayden Daniels, but that has been only from the Las Vegas perspective.

However, there have been some reports over the last week that Jayden Daniels has voiced that he would like to play for the Raiders. One such report came from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN on Wednesday:

I’ve also heard Daniels has interest in playing for Pierce and the Raiders. That interest is mutual, though as Dan said, Las Vegas moving up from No. 13 to No. 2 just isn’t very plausible right now. Penix, Nix and even South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler could very much be in play for the Raiders down the board.

But as Fowler mentioned, the likelihood of the Raiders moving all the way up to No. 2 to acquire Daniels just isn’t realistic. However, if he were to fall to pick No. 4 or No. 5, that is where things get really interesting.

Expect the Washington Commanders to select Daniels with the No. 2 pick. But don’t be surprised if the Raiders try to make a move up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy Winner.

The Raiders are in the market for more interior defensive line help. That much is known. But that likely won’t happen until the third day of the 2024 NFL Draft.

On Monday, we discussed Leonard Taylor (Miami) as a potential Day 3 option. But another name to keep in mind is Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year DT T’Vonde Sweat.

In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they explained why Sweat could end up being a big value on Day 3 of the NFL Draft. Here is a quick snippet of why he is such an intriguing prospect:

On the field, Sweat is coming off an outstanding 2023 season with grades above 85.0 as a pass rusher and run defender. His 0.44 PFF Wins Above Average ranked first among all interior defensive linemen in college football last season, edging out teammate and expected first-round pick Byron Murphy II.

The biggest question surrounding Sweat isn’t his talent, but his off-field concerns. Sweat was arrested in April for a DWI and he’s been known for his party habits in college. But he is a dominant nose tackle that can free up other defenders on the defensive line.

We will see how the Raiders feel about Sweat’s off-the-field concerns, but his talent matches what Antonio Pierce wants on defense. Keep him in mind as a potential option sometime on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.

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In a recent article by Pro Football Focus, they named one early and late-round fit that would make the most sense for every team. For the Raiders, LSU QB Jayden Daniels was the early-round fit due to his relationship with Antonio Pierce. The Raiders would love to add Daniels, but trading up inside the top three selections just isn’t realistic.

But the more interesting name in this piece was Miami (FL) DT Leonard Taylor, who is a former five-star recruit with a big pedigree. Here is why PFF believes that he could make sense in Las Vegas:

They could also be a team that would be interested in taking a home run swing on one of the most talented interior defenders – albeit an inconsistent one – in Taylor.

The Raiders signed Christian Wilkins to a huge contract this offseason, but they could use more depth on the interior defensive line. Taylor has the talent to be a high-end starter in the NFL, but he needs to go to the right team and with the right staff in order for him to realize his potential.

Don’t be surprised if the Raiders gamble on Taylor sometime on Day 3. He seems like the perfect project for Pierce.

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It is officially the week of the NFL Draft! And that means we will see hundreds of mock drafts posted on social media for the next four days. But one common trend seems to be emerging for the Raiders at pick No. 13.

Most mock drafters are coming around to the idea of the Raiders selecting a right tackle with their first pick. The tackle that has been the most frequently mocked to the Raiders at No. 13 is Oregon State RT Taliese Fuaga.

In a recent mock draft by Jordan Reid of ESPN, he mocked Fuaga to the Raiders at No. 13 and then followed it up with Michael Penix Jr. in Round 2. Here is Reid’s reasoning behind the selection:

Last season’s starter at right tackle — Jermaine Eluemunor — left in free agency, creating a void on the right side of the offensive line. But Fuaga would be a plug-and-play option opposite left tackle Kolton Miller. Fuaga’s strength and physical temperament would be an asset to the Raiders’ front, as he gave up only one sack over his last two college seasons.

Antonio Pierce is dead-set on improving the offensive line for the Raiders, regardless of who is at quarterback. They want to be a physical football team and it all starts up front. Fuaga’s power would be a much-needed addition to the right side of the offensive line for Las Vegas.

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One of the toughest parts about the NFL Draft is weighing need versus value. Over the last several years, we’ve seen the Raiders put an emphasis on need instead of value. And unfortunately, they don’t have a lot to show for it.

But with new GM Tom Telesco, the Raiders could be changing their approach to drafting. Instead of reaching for need, they might just sit back and take the best players that are available. So what player(s) could represent the biggest value for the Raiders in Round 1?

In a recent article by Matt Miller of ESPN, he wrote that Oregon State RT Taliese Fuaga would be the best value pick that the Raiders could make at No. 13. Here is his reasoning behind that statement:

We agree on the position but not the player. Fuaga is No. 12 on my board, and I think he is the best right tackle in the 2024 class, even above Latham. He’s an elite run-blocker and has serious power.

Fuaga is widely viewed as the best right tackle in this class and he has the flexibility to play guard, if needed. Luckily for the Raiders, they have a need at right tackle, so this would accomplish both goals of addressing a position of weakness and getting value in the draft.

Fuaga is likely to be on the short list of names that the Raiders consider in Round 1 next Thursday night.

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There has been a lot of buzz over the last few weeks that the Raiders could select Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. at some point during the NFL Draft. Apparently, the Raiders are set on adding a quarterback and they believe he could be the best fit in Luke Getsy’s offense.

But the latest rumor is that the Raiders might even consider selecting him at No. 13. That would mean that five quarterbacks would be off the board in the draft’s first 13 selections. Vic Tafur of The Athletic first reported this, but he isn’t the only one signing this song.

In a recent article by Matt Miller of ESPN, he wrote about Penix to the Raiders at No. 13. Here is why he believes that it could happen next Thursday night:

One constant I keep hearing from people I trust is that the Raiders really do like Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and could select him at No. 13 overall. That would qualify as a surprise, despite the fact that Penix is a beautiful thrower from the pocket and has the best overall arm strength in this class.

His medical history — four straight season-ending injuries while at Indiana — and his lack of mobility are concerns enough that he is ranked No. 40 on my board and is generally seen as a Day 2 prospect, but the buzz here is starting to heat up connecting the Raiders to him in Round 1. Las Vegas signed Gardner Minshew, but this team was 26th in QBR last season (40.1) and needs a long-term solution.

If the Raiders believe Penix can be a franchise quarterback, then there is no spot in Round 1 that is too high for him. However, the consensus is that he is more of a second-round pick, rather than a top-16 selection. Still, it is interesting to hear how much the Raiders are interested in the former Pac-12 star.

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The Raiders selected a quarterback on Day 3 of the NFL Draft last year, and Aidan O’Connell went on to lead the team in passing yards and touchdowns. He was the team’s starting quarterback for most of the season, but his future is still in limbo.

Could the Raiders select another Day 3 quarterback again this year to compete with O’Connell and Gardner Minshew? It’s certainly possible, especially if they strike out in Round 1.

One potential option for the Raiders on Day 3 is Tulane QB Michael Pratt, who has a ton of experience and was incredibly productive over the last two seasons. Here is a snippet of why Pro Football Focus believes he could work out in the NFL:

Pratt’s footwork needs improvement, as he sometimes gets flat-footed in the pocket, leading to inconsistent mechanics. There will also be questions about his ability to carry a team consistently. His supporting cast — especially his offensive line — eroded in 2023, and his performance wasn’t as stellar as the year before. Pratt certainly has nice tools, and his experience under center is a plus. He could be a viable starting option after a bit of development.

While Pratt does need to improve his overall technique, there is a lot to like about his game. He averaged over 8.5 yards per attempt over the last two seasons and threw a combined 45 touchdowns to just 10 touchdowns.

It’s never a bad idea to continue to throw darts at the QB position and Pratt is one of the more intriguing Day 3 options in this class.

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Sitting at pick No. 13, the Raiders are likely to miss out on the top four quarterback prospects. There has been some building buzz that the Raiders could select Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. at that spot, but that seems entirely too early for a quarterback with his injury history.

So if the Raiders don’t take a quarterback in Round 1, should they consider “punting” on the position until next year? That is what Pro Football Focus suggested in a recent piece on the Raiders. Here is a snippet of what they had to say about Las Vegas entering the 2024 NFL Draft:

The rebuild in Las Vegas is unlikely to be completed in a single season, so the Raiders are probably doing the right thing in heading into 2024 with Aidan O’Connell as their starting quarterback. The 2023 fourth-round draft pick out of Purdue made enough plays down the stretch on his way to a 65.9 PFF grade that the Raiders can wait and see who falls in the first three rounds before deciding if they need to add to the position this year.

The Raiders have other big needs on their roster, including offensive tackle and cornerback. They could easily address those needs with their top two picks and “pass” on a quarterback until next year. While that strategy is less than ideal, it seems plausible if Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco don’t want to force a pick at QB.

As PFF mentioned, O’Connell had a nice rookie season despite all the turmoil. But just how much do the Raiders trust him moving forward? The NFL Draft is just a week away. And we still have no idea what the Raiders are planning to do at quarterback.

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