After new Commanders GM Adam Peters said he did not envision many scenarios in which his team would move off the No. 2 overall pick, the other team that has been regularly connected to Jayden Daniels opted to test the NFC East team’s commitment.
The Raiders indeed contacted the Commanders about a trade-down from No. 2, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. Other teams have inquired about Washington’s selection, but Garafolo and NFL.com colleague Ian Rapoport note the team has not shown an indication it is interested in moving down.
[RELATED: How Will Raiders Address QB Need In Draft?]
Indeed, the draft is expected to start with Caleb Williams and Daniels. While the 2023 Heisman winner is not considered a full-on lock to head to Washington in the way the 2022 Heisman recipient is tied to Chicago at No. 1, SI.com’s Albert Breer offers that most around the NFL expect Daniels to be a Commander by Thursday night.
Not ruling out Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy to Washington, Breer notes Daniels remains a clear favorite here. It has been trending this way for a bit now. Still, Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson adds Maye and McCarthy fans still exist within the Washington building. These two joined Daniels on that much-discussed mass Commanders visit last week.
It is certainly unsurprising to see the Raiders mentioned as an 11th-hour suitor. Due to Antonio Pierce‘s past with Daniels at Arizona State, they have been connected to the dual-threat talent longer than any NFL team. But Washington lost its final eight games last season, outflanking New England for the right to pick second. The Raiders holding No. 13 overall has long made it unlikely they could put together a package appealing enough to convince a QB-needy Commanders operation to slide down that far.
A report earlier this month offered intrigue about the Raiders’ desire to move up, putting Pierce and new GM Tom Telesco on opposing sides of that debate. Telesco, who has been tied to either Justin Herbert or Philip Rivers throughout his GM career, was said to not be overly enthusiastic about the prospect of sacrificing major draft capital to acquire a quarterback in this draft. Pierce was pegged as being readier to do what it takes to land a long-term passer. The now-full-time HC has not been shy about expressing his interest in such an addition, but the Raiders’ draft slot will bring complications in a year that could feature an NFL-first QB-QB-QB-QB start to a draft.
As it stands now, Gardner Minshew is on track to be Las Vegas’ Week 1 starter. But Daniels is not the only passer the Raiders have been paired with during the draft run-up. Raiders interest in Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. has escalated, at least per multiple reports; the recent national championship game starter could profile as a Daniels consolation prize for Pierce’s team. Then again, a Monday rumor suggested the Patriots could be open to trading back — perhaps with the Vikings (No. 11) or Broncos (No. 12) — and acquiring Penix. Thus far, however, New England is also expected to stay at No. 3 and choose a passer.
Perhaps a final round of Raiders-Daniels buzz circulated last week, when reports pointed to the ex-Arizona State recruit wanting to play for the AFC West team. Barring historically unusual efforts, players do not exactly have a say in who drafts them. Daniels, who attended Las Vegas’ Week 18 game and visited Pierce’s team in the locker room, did not deny interest in being a Raider. But he acknowledged he will be eager to play for whichever team drafts him. It still looks like that will be the Commanders.
The Raiders showed interest in trading up — likely with Daniels in mind — at multiple points this offseason, even to the point they were interested in obtaining the No. 1 pick. The Bears showed next to no interest in making a move, having traded Justin Fields to clear the decks for Williams. The Commanders made a similar move, dealing Sam Howell to the Seahawks and installing Marcus Mariota as a backup/bridge option.
So Daniels wants to go to Raiders. it’s “somehow” leaders that Raiders called Washington to ask about a trade for that #2 pick. I sense Daniels is about to pull an Eli Manning and force his way to the team he wants.
He really doesnt have much leverage.
Chargers still chose Eli
Giants offered # 4, a 2025 1st, and 2024 3rd for Eli
And Chargers only accepted the offer once Giants took Phillip Rivers to ensure they got a highly rated QB prospect back.
Had Rivers been taken by Oakland or Arizona instead, doubt Eli winds up a Giant. Maybe a Steeler who took Ben Roethlisberger at 11?
But Washington isnt under any pressure to deal Daniels to Las Vegas. If he doesnt want to play in Washington and refuses to play for them plenty of other destinations to ship him off to and get ample draft pick compensation. And if he doesnt want to play anywhere but Las Vegas well he can retire and never play in the NFL then. Washington will hold his rights minimum 5 years.
As I understand the draft, he wouldn’t belong to them for 5 years, he would simply re-enter the draft in 2025.
Gripper:
You are correct
And Bo Jackson went from 1st overall pick to a 7th rounder. Least Bo had the opportunity to pursue a baseball career.
If Daniels wants to sit a year, become a day 2 or 3 draft pick cause he didnt play a full year and teams aren’t going to take a chance on a QB with an attitude issue in the 1st round, lose millions of dollars his 1st 4 years. More power to him.
Bo at least had a legitimate reason to skip out on signing as the #1 pick. The Buc’s owner lied to him and sabotaged his baseball career. It is actually admirable that Bo turned down all that money to maintain his dignity in the face of a rich POS that thought he could do what he wanted.
Not wanting to play for a certain team isn’t an “attitude issue”, in my opinion. If you go to the wrong spot it can impact your career and earnings potential. I don’t think it’s wrong for players to want to go where they feel they have the best chance to succeed, and if anyone can pull it off, as far as I’m concerned, more power to them.
After watching Washington commit to
Allegreti
Lucas
Deiter
Biadasz
Ekeler
I’d have to disagree and say him not wanting to go to Washington and go to the Raiders is an attitude issue. Washington has actually made strides to improve the positions around the QB especially on the oline. Raiders not so much.
Much like Houston did with Stroud a year ago.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Washington go Daniels and then tackle and WR in the 2nd.
Raiders on the other hand are talking mortgaging the future to move up the board. Just what a young QB needs. Missing future draft picks so the team can’t build around him.
Yeah. Attitude issue for sure in this case.
Plus Daniels himself never said he didn’t want to go anywhere, rather he said he’d like to re-join Antonio Pierce with Raiders but understands it’s unlikely.
The storyline about him being offended by Washington having a group visit came from his agent, not Daniels.
I have heard Daniels say he’ll be happy anywhere, plus a Peter Schrager interview on McAfee yesterday backs that up.
It’s media trying to create a scandal.
It can be more than players though. System matters too. Obviously, none of us know exactly what Washington will want to do on offense. I would assume they have probably had some conversations with Daniels about it. It could be he has comfort with Pierce, and would just prefer it.
I don’t even disagree with you that trading a boatload of picks to move up would be a bad move for the Raiders. I just disagree with you that these young players wanting to go a certain spot means they have an attitude issue. I think you’re flat wrong on that.
Has Daniels over Maye (or McCarthy) actually been sourced to Washington, or is it just echo chamber of reporters referencing each other? It has always felt like the latter to me and I won’t be surprised if Daniels “falls” now based on what the current narrative seems to be. It will all be blamed on TopGolf now too, lol.
INDEED
Not worth drafting drama for Washington. Maye would be my pick