The Las Vegas Raiders have had a very eventful offseason, making a number of moves to push the franchise back to the postseason. The Raiders have a new regime in charge with head coach Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco, but all final decisions still go through owner Mark Davis.
The biggest question for the Raiders remains what the team will do at the quarterback position. Much of the focus is currently on the NFL Draft and whether the Raiders will stand pat at their current position of 13th overall or make a move up if they feel one of the top prospects is worth it.
It will be a crucial decision and one that could shape the future of this franchise, and Davis is instilling trust in his front office to do whatever they feel is right. According to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, Davis has given his blessing for Telesco and Pierce to make any move as long as it makes sense:
Sources say Raiders owner Mark Davis has given his blessing for Telesco and Pierce to make a move, any move … so long as it makes sense.
And in the eyes of Pierce, anything should be on the table that makes the Raiders the best team possible:
“I think everything’s on the table,” Pierce said at the recent NFL owners’ meetings. “Whatever makes the Raiders better, I’m all for. And when I say I’m a go-getter, [that means] whatever it takes to win, whatever it takes to get the best player to make our team the best, that’s what I want to do, and that’s what I’d like to see us do.”
The Raiders have been linked heavily with LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels who won the Heisman Trophy last year. But the Raiders would have to give up a lot to move into the top three to be able to take him, and some would question whether that is worth it.
At the end of the day, if Pierce and Telesco are on the same page about what needs to be done, then Davis is going to trust and empower them to make whatever move, which is all anyone can ask of the owner.
Is Michael Penix Jr. the best QB fit for Raiders?
The other name that has been linked to the Raiders as of late is Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. who is expected to be available when the Raiders are on the clock at 13. The question is whether they feel he is the guy who can take this team to the next level.
One ESPN analyst believes that is the case, pointing not only to Penix’s ability on the field but also the fact that he is an older prospect who should be able to come in and contribute immediately, something the Raiders need.
