As the countdown to the draft enters its final days, Jayden Daniels remains the subject of considerable speculation at the top of the board. The Heisman-winning quarterback is in position to be selected as early as second overall by the Commanders, but links to the Raiders have been made throughout the offseason. 
Daniels began his college career at Arizona State, where he played under Antonio Pierce. The latter is now in place as the Raiders’ head coach, and Las Vegas has frequently been named as a team to watch regarding a move up the order in general and one targeting Daniels in particular. Recent reports indicated the LSU product is interested in a reunion with Pierce, something he spoke publicly about.
“I don’t know how they’re gonna pull it off,” Daniels said during an appearance on the Nightcap Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson when asked about landing with the Raiders. “But I mean that’s above my pay grade… A.P. just as a human being, he’s the right coach for that team. You know, just him and the intensity that he brings. He challenges people. He was challenging me at 18.
“So I know if I was to go to the Raiders — I’m not saying I’m gonna go there or I wanna go there, I wanna go wherever my name is called — if I was to go to the Raiders, I know as soon as I step foot, he’s gonna challenge me.”
Multiple signs have pointed to Daniels remaining the favorite to be Washington’s choice, and the QB-needy Commanders are not expected to trade out of the No. 2 slot. Even if the Raiders (currently positioned to pick 13th) pull off a costly move up the board, the team could be consigned to drafting another passer capable of competing for the starting role. If a swap making Daniels available was deemed to not be a feasible option, Vegas could look at other Day 1 prospects and rely on Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew under center.
Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco may not be in lockstep with respect to the team’s quarterback strategy entering their first year working together. The latter could favor a Minshew-O’Connell pairing for 2024, something which would eliminate the possibility of a reunion with Daniels from Pierce’s perspective. It will be interesting to see how aggressive Vegas gets in the coming days regarding trade negotiations for an aggressive QB pursuit.
The Raiders’ draft plans are a key talking point, as is the case for teams like the Giants, Vikings and Broncos. Daniels will remain connected to Vegas in particular over the coming days, especially given his praise of Pierce before learning his fate. A different destination remains likely, and how the Raiders react in the event Daniels is drafted by the Commanders will be a key factor in shaping the first-round landscape.
The Commanders have to take him second. Personally I like him at 1 but understand I’m in the minority
Not an expert but what will it take the Raiders to select Daniels?
I think it would most likely take the Commanders taking a different QB at 2, the Patriots being willing to trade out of 3, and the Raiders outbidding the Vikings, who have 11 and 23 to trade. So it would take a LOT, like this year’s first and second, plus their next first and more, possibly even their next two firsts. Unless Williams, Maye, and McCarthy all go before Daniels, which seems unlikely.
Williams to Chicago is about the worst kept secret, Washington takes Daniels, unless a team really looks to pay extreme future picks, talking firsts for the next 3 years plus additional picks. New England almost in the same boat as Washington asking for picks. AZ is where the trading starts, Cards wants one of the 3 WR so if they do deal NY Giants are sitting best right now to move up to #4 and the Cards getting a WR. Unless Minnesota can come up with the 3 first round picks, or Denver wants to include CB Surtain in the move up, Oakland will have to pay as much or more than Denver. Cards are sitting in a very good spot right now, the GM saying he will not make a deal until he is on the clock, that IMO is a gamble to do a deal in 10 minutes while on the clock. Cards are in a win win situation, they either get all they want from these teams or just take one of the three top WR’s in the draft. Can’t waith till Thursday when the Cards are on the clock.
Antonio Pierce don’t what this dude!
His teammates didn’t like him at AzSt…do we really think the coaches loved him?
Moving up that far is just unrealistic. Raiders should turn their attention to more attainable goals, perhaps even trading down.