Why Raiders didn't trade up to draft quarterback

For a piece published on Monday, ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler explained why the Las Vegas Raiders didn't move up into the top three picks of the 2024 NFL Draft to select a quarterback. 

"According to multiple sources, the Raiders had explored a potential move into the top three for a quarterback," Fowler revealed. Specifically, Fowler called LSU Tigers signal-caller Jayden Daniels "the most viable candidate for the Raiders in any such scenario."

Eric Edholm of the NFL's website and others previously mentioned that Daniels played at Arizona State when current Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce was on that program's staff. 

Daniels publicly acknowledged last week that a reunion with Pierce "would be good," but Daniels also insisted at that time that he'd happily join the Washington Commanders if they drafted him second overall. 

"During the pre-draft process, Daniels had shown interest in playing for his former coach in Las Vegas," Fowler reported. 

Washington selected Daniels after the Chicago Bears spent the draft's first pick to land USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams. Despite being the subject of numerous predraft trade rumors, the New England Patriots stayed at pick No. 3 and selected North Carolina Tar Heels signal-caller Drake Maye.

"But the draft's consensus top quarterbacks...went 1-2-3 to teams that weren't moving off their picks, deeming any inquiry futile," Fowler added about the Raiders' possible pursuit of Daniels or Maye. 

One Las Vegas source told Fowler that the Raiders "weren't going to reach or overpay for a QB" at any point this past Thursday. That source also said that there "never was a worry and nothing frantic" among those running the Raiders about their quarterback situation. 

One Raiders source admitted that the club "would have considered" grabbing Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. "more so than" either J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines or Bo Nix of the Oregon Ducks with the 13th pick. 

The Atlanta Falcons drafted Penix via the eighth choice, and neither McCarthy nor Nix was on the board when the Raiders took Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers at No. 13. 

It's assumed the Raiders will have 2023 fourth-round draft pick Aidan O'Connell compete with free-agency pickup Gardner Minshew for the starting quarterback job this summer. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Minshew finished this past regular season ranked 14th among qualified players with a 59.6 adjusted QBR. To compare, O'Connell was 26th with a 40.5 QBR.