Antonio Pierce, affiliated with the Raiders, supports the notion of selecting LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels in the draft.
Less than two days after officially becoming the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Antonio Pierce seems to be directing his attention towards the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. Specifically, he seems to endorse a particular bold move — the selection of LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner.
Pierce expressed his support by acknowledging or “liking” a post on X (formerly Twitter). The post featured a picture of Daniels alongside two fans, one of whom was sporting a Raiders shirt. The caption stated that the quarterback is eager to “come to the dark side” and included the hashtag #RaiderNation. This suggests that Pierce is already considering impactful moves for the Raiders in the upcoming draft.
While the Raiders coach is likely just expressing admiration for one of college football’s top quarterbacks, it’s certainly worth noting. The Raiders have Jimmy Garoppolo under contract for two more years, having signed him to a three-year, $72.75 million deal last offseason. Additionally, they have Aidan O’Connell, a 2023 fourth-round pick who played in 11 games this past season.
Garoppolo lost his starting position to O’Connell on Nov. 1, and the rookie had a commendable season with 2,218 passing yards and 12 touchdown passes, accompanied by just seven interceptions. In comparison, Daniels had an outstanding season, throwing for 3,812 yards with 40 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. He also demonstrated his versatility by rushing for 1,134 yards with 10 touchdowns.
As of now, the Raiders possess the No. 13 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, following an 8–9 season, including a 5–4 record under Pierce as the interim head coach. This draft class features several talented quarterbacks besides Daniels, such as USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and Washington’s Michael Penix.
