Jayden Daniels of LSU Tigers looking on.TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Jayden Daniels #5 of the LSU Tigers looks on during the ReliaQuest Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
An interesting AFC team is reportedly a club to follow in the Jayden Daniels sweepstakes as the 2024 NFL Draft draws closer.

The LSU stalwart and 2023 Heisman Trophy winner is widely regarded as the third-best quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft class, behind USC’s Caleb Williams (the favorite to go first overall) and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

 

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Las Vegas Raiders (owners of the No. 13 pick) could “be a team to watch” for Daniels. Fowler added that new Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce likes the 23-year-old dual-threat QB:

“The Las Vegas Raiders (No. 13) might be a team to watch. New coach Antonio Pierce is a big fan of Daniels from their days together at Arizona State, and word is that Pierce evaluated offensive coordinators with the loose possibility of Daniels in mind.”

The Raiders are expected to find a new starting quarterback in 2023, with Jimmy Garoppolo (signed to a three-year deal last year) losing his starting job midseason and with rookie Aidan O’Connell bringing mixed results. Raiders QBs combined for just 20 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions in 2023.

The team hasn’t spent a first-round pick on a quarterback since 2007, when they took future draft bust JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 pick.