The Las Vegas Raiders’ offseason has been spent taking care of their head coach and general manager positions while also continuing their search for an offensive coordinator. In terms of actual roster needs for the Raiders, however, there is no question that the team must find their franchise quarterback and the name Jayden Daniels has popped up multiple times.
The LSU quarterback won the Heisman Trophy this year after throwing for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with just four interceptions. But Daniels is a true dual-threat quarterback as well, adding another 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
One ESPN analyst believes Daniels is the perfect fit for the Raiders and exactly what the team needs at the quarterback position. Robert Griffin III was recently interviewed and feels that with Daniels under center, the Raiders will be a playoff team, via Austin Boyd of Heavy.com:
“They gotta go get their quarterback,” Griffin told Adrian Hernandez in a January 24 interview. “I believe that is Jayden Daniels out of LSU. [Antonio] Pierce recruited out of Arizona State and I believe Jayden Daniels makes the Raiders a playoff team instantly. His ability to throw the football, run the beat football, beat them with his mind. … Hands down, they’re a playoff team with Jayden Daniels at quarterback.”
Daniels’ talent is unquestionable, and if he is able to replicate what he did with the Tigers at the NFL level, it would undoubtedly take the Raiders to a completely different level. As Griffin noted, he is already familiar with Antonio Pierce from his time with Arizona State where the Raiders coach was on the staff.
The issue for the Raiders now is that they will almost certainly have to trade up in order to get their hands on the quarterback if they feel he is the answer to their quarterback problems. Daniels has risen to the level of Caleb Williams and Drake Maye on many draft boards which means the Raiders would have to go into the top-3 to grab him.
That would be a hefty cost, but getting a franchise quarterback would be worth it. If he is truly the guy, the Raiders must go get him.
Raiders star Davante Adams is a fan of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels
In addition to Pierce being familiar with Jayden Daniels, the LSU star also has a fan in Raiders star wide receiver Davante Adams.
Adams recently spoke on Daniels, calling him a good, tough player and someone who could come in and immediately make a difference in the NFL.
