While there has been a lot of talk about the Las Vegas Raiders targeting a quarterback with their top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, one league insider thinks that would be a bad decision and there is a better way for the team to go in Round 1.
With NFL free agency mostly in the rearview, the biggest talking point over the last couple of weeks when it comes to the Raiders is what they will do in the opening round of this month’s draft. They pick 13th overall and should be able to land an impact player but it may not be at the position they are hoping for.
- Las Vegas Raiders draft picks 2024: No. 13, No. 44, No. 77, No. 112, No. 148, No. 208, No. 223, No. 229
Related: Latest Las Vegas Raiders NFL Mock Draft for 2024
Rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell did a solid job in his 10 starts last season, however, he also showed that he is not going to be the long-term answer for the team. That is why there has been talk the Raiders want to land a QB in Round 1 and would even be willing to trade up to get elite prospects like Jayden Daniels, JJ McCarthy, or Drake Maye.
However, earlier this week ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell explained why drafting a QB in Round 1 is not going to solve the various issues the silver-and-black have heading into the 2024 season.
“[The Raiders] aren’t as close to contending as they seem to believe. This team was the league’s 11th-oldest a year ago, in huge part because it got virtually nothing out of the top-100 picks it made during the Jon Gruden and Josh McDaniels eras,” Barnwell wrote.
“… While the Raiders need an upgrade on Aidan O’Connell at quarterback. They’re also not a quarterback away from competing with the Chiefs. (Yes, they beat the Chiefs in December, but if you’re counting on getting two defensive touchdowns on consecutive plays to beat Patrick Mahomes every time out, that’s not going to go well,” he added.
Should the Las Vegas Raiders trade down in 2024 NFL Draft?
That is why Barnwell suggested the Raiders need to go in the opposite direction and instead of trading up for a signal-caller the organization needs to fall back in Round 1 and get more draft capital to fix multiple issues.
“Las Vegas needs long-term answers along the offensive line, in the secondary, and at running back. That’s why it’s the perfect team to take a swing on a quarterback such as Michael Penix Jr. early in Round 2 after moving down to add extra picks in Round 1,” he wrote.
Unfortunately for fans who like this strategy, Barnwell warned that new general manager Tom Telesco has never traded down in the draft during his career and his history shows it is unlikely to happen in 2024.
Related: NFL reporter suggests Las Vegas Raiders might need to trade up for top target in Round 1