After moving on from Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo, the Las Vegas Raiders are looking for their third franchise quarterback since Davante Adams arrived in 2022. Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are the current frontrunners to win the starting job, and the coaching staff has already propped up the latter as a potential starter.
Yet, expectations are that the Raiders will add another quarterback via the 2024 NFL Draft, and it might even require a trade up to do so. We can cross Caleb Williams off the list; he’s nearly guaranteed to land with the Chicago Bears.
That leaves Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and J.J. McCarthy as the top three remaining QB prospects, with Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix lurking in the shadows. While players may not have the same eye for talent as pro scouts who spend countless hours poring over college film, it’s only natural to expect athletes to form an opinion on who they’d like to team up with.
It appears Davante Adams has made his choice. He seems to want LSU’s Jayden Daniels to be the next Raiders quarterback. At least, that’s what his social media profile would have us believe.
Davante Adams’ IG story endorsing Jayden Daniels 👀 pic.twitter.com/C585M7OPiN
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) March 28, 2024
It’s a fascinating public admiration for a player who the Raiders may have no shot at drafting. Really, it all depends on what Washington decides to do with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. If the Commanders take Daniels, Adams’ dream dies. Yet, if the Patriots truly are open for business and are considering trading the third pick, the Raiders might have an opening. But only if Daniels is still available.
But of course, there are several other factors at play. How desperate are the Denver Broncos to find their next franchise quarterback? They pick 12th, one slot ahead of the Raiders. We also can’t forget about the Minnesota Vikings, who boast more draft capital than the Raiders and Broncos and pick higher at No. 11. If the Broncos and Vikings are smitten with Daniels, we can’t rule out either one making a big trade up.
Ultimately, Adams may have a strong desire to team up with Daniels, but the odds of him actually landing in Vegas appear slim. But then again, we’ve seen plenty of draft day surprises, and Daniels joining the Raiders could become the latest.
Related: 2024 NFL mock draft: Broncos, Vikings get QBs, projecting J.J. McCarthy’s landing spot
