There are hundreds of athletes at the NFL Scouting Combine, but the quarterbacks will receive the most attention. Jayden Daniels, a former LSU quarterback, was one of the more notable attendees.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been linked to the Heisman Trophy winner because of his relationship with head coach Antonio Pierce. He was Daniels’ recruitment coordinator at Arizona State, and the two had known each other for quite some time.
Though Daniels is open to playing anywhere, he couldn’t contain his excitement about maybe reuniting with Pierce in the NFL.
“A.P. is an excellent man. He’s the appropriate person for the job. In a March 1 interview with CBS Sports, Daniels said, “If my phone rings on draft day and it’s A.P., I’m not sure what I’d do.”
Daniels has not been bashful about his feelings for Pierce. He praised the coach during his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech and attended the Raiders’ Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos. It’s safe to say he wouldn’t be disappointed if he ended up in Las Vegas, but the problem for both parties is that the Raiders don’t choose until No. 13, and Daniels will be gone by then.
Jayden Daniels opens up about her relationship with Antonio Pierce.
If Jayden Daniels could choose his team, there’s a high chance he’d go with the Raiders. However, this is not how the draft works. Daniels will most likely play for either the Washington Commanders or the New England Patriots next season.
Regardless, Daniels adores Antonio Pierce and elaborated on what the coach meant to him.
“I spent time with A.P. On March 1, Daniels told The Athletic’s Vic Tafur: “He is who he is.” “People can see it today, but he weighed 150 pounds when I was in high school. He believed in me. He recruited me. He presented me with a chance. “Our relationship extends beyond football.”
Pierce was clearly right to see something in Daniels as he was the best player in college football last year and is not on track to be a top-five draft pick
Is there any way the Las Vegas Raiders can get Jayden Daniels?
Whether or not the Raiders could have a chance to get Jayden Daniels may depend on what the Patriots plan to do. The Chicago Bears at No. 1 and the Commanders at No. 2 are almost certainly taking quarterbacks. The Bears are likely taking Caleb Williams but there’s debate between Drake Maye and Daniels for the No. 2 spot.
The Raiders would have to hope that the Commanders like Maye more. The Patriots also need a quarterback badly. However, they’ve got a long rebuild ahead of them and could decide to kick the quarterback issue down the road and the haul of draft picks they’d get for that No. 3 pick would be massive.
That said, it’s hard to put a price on a star quarterback so there’s still a very good chance that they decide to stay put. The only way the Raiders are going to have any shot at Daniels is if they’re willing to trade a ton of assets. It’s possible that ends up happening but there’s definitely no way they’re getting him if they stay put at No. 13
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