The Las Vegas Raiders recently contacted the Washington Commanders regarding a potential trade for the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. This move comes after Commanders’ General Manager Adam Peters stated that he couldn’t foresee many scenarios where Washington would move off their high draft position. Despite inquiries from several teams, including the Raiders, the Commanders have shown little interest in trading down.
The main reason the Raiders reached out is due to their interest in Jayden Daniels, a top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft. NFL analysts expect the draft to start with Caleb Williams at No. 1, heading to the Chicago Bears, and Daniels likely to follow as the second pick to the Commanders. Despite a few voices in Washington advocating for other quarterbacks like Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy, Daniels remains the clear favorite.
This approach by the Raiders isn’t surprising, given that their current head coach, Antonio Pierce, has a connection with Daniels from their time at Arizona State. The Raiders’ interest in Daniels has been longstanding, even before they contacted the Commanders. However, the Raiders are set to draft at No. 13, making it challenging to create a package appealing enough for the Commanders to give up the No. 2 spot.
The Raiders’ internal debate about moving up in the draft has been well documented. Coach Pierce has been more inclined to trade up to get a franchise quarterback, while new General Manager Tom Telesco appears more cautious, likely because of his experience managing established quarterbacks like Justin Herbert and Philip Rivers. Given the potential for the draft to start with four quarterbacks in a row, the Raiders’ 13th pick may be too far down to attract Washington’s interest.
Meanwhile, Gardner Minshew is currently on track to be the Raiders’ starting quarterback for Week 1, but the team has explored other options. If they don’t land Daniels, they could turn to Michael Penix Jr., another promising quarterback prospect. Penix has been generating buzz, and other teams like the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos are reportedly interested in him as well. The Patriots, picking at No. 3, are unlikely to trade down, but they have also been linked to Penix.
Interestingly, Daniels has expressed interest in playing for the Raiders, which further fueled the rumors about the team’s potential draft moves. Despite his enthusiasm, players rarely have much influence over which team selects them in the draft. Daniels visited the Raiders’ locker room and attended their Week 18 game, indicating a preference for the AFC West team, but he remains open to joining whichever team drafts him.
Overall, the Raiders’ attempt to trade up suggests their desire to secure a promising quarterback. However, the Commanders’ reluctance to trade down indicates they are likely to retain their No. 2 pick and select Daniels. This outcome aligns with the general expectation in the NFL community, leaving the Raiders with other quarterback options to consider.
