The Las Vegas Raiders were in full attendance at Jayden Daniels’ LSU Pro Day. Head coach Antonio Pierce, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello all observed the workout and met with the quarterback afterward.
It’s well known that the Raiders are interested in Daniels. Pierce recruited the quarterback at Arizona State, and the two have maintained a strong relationship. Daniels has also hinted at the potential mutual interestbetween the Raiders and him. After his Pro Day, Daniels shared his thoughts on the possibility of being drafted by Las Vegas.
“That would be unbelievable. … That’s out of my control, so I don’t stress about stuff like that, but that would be unbelievable if that occurred,” Daniels said regarding reuniting with Pierce on the Raiders in a March 27 interview with NFL Network.
Daniels doesn’t have much say in where he’ll be drafted, but it seems he wouldn’t be upset to reunite with Pierce. However, he’s one of the top quarterback prospects in the draft and likely won’t fall out of the top five. The Raiders will need to be creative if they want to draft Daniels.
“My versatility. Explosive plays are name of the game of football. Defenses try to limit explosive plays & explosive players. My resume speaks for itself.”
1-on-1 w/ LSU QB Jayden Daniels on QB1 debate, Commanders, Raiders, speed, more.
Watch Pro Day Special @nflnetwork 8pm ET. pic.twitter.com/Vx4PwviMXL
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 27, 2024
Jayden Daniels Has Up and Down Pro Day
Jayden Daniels significantly improved his standing in 2023. After never throwing for more than 20 touchdowns in college, he exploded for a 40-touchdown season and won the Heisman Trophy. He surged up draft boards and could potentially be the No. 2 pick.
Daniels chose not to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, so his Pro Day is his only opportunity to showcase his abilities. While he impressed with his arm strength, CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso remarked that it wasn’t a flawless day for the quarterback.
“My initial impression of Daniels’ throwing session was that the ball flew out of his hand effortlessly,” Trapasso stated in a March 27 column. “I have no concerns about Daniels’ arm strength or talent, but some analysts don’t see him as a top-tier velocity producer. Daniels consistently threw with high velocity during his entire pro day.
“However, we can’t consider Daniels’ workout flawless. There was a clear miss on a throw near the sideline, and a seam pass didn’t lead the receiver down the middle of the field. Daniels also narrowly missed two long throws early in the session before finding his rhythm later on.”
A few missed throws during a workout are unlikely to cause Daniels to fall in the draft rankings, but it might place him behind Drake Maye for the No. 2 quarterback position.
Can the Las Vegas Raiders Realistically Acquire Jayden Daniels?
The only chance the Raiders have of drafting Jayden Daniels is if the Washington Commanders at No. 2 prefer Drake Maye. There has been speculation about them being open to trading down, but they have a significant need at quarterback and just traded Sam Howell.
Now, the New England Patriots at No. 3 could be an option. They also need a quarterback, but their roster lacks talent. They should trade down to accumulate draft picks and focus on building the rest of the roster. If that happens, the Raiders could offer them a collection of draft picks for the No. 3 pick and use it to draft Daniels.
