Raiders Rumors: Jayden Daniels 'a Name to Watch' as Possible QB to Replace Garoppolo

As the Las Vegas Raiders look for a new quarterback this offseason, one name they are keeping an eye on his 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

Appearing on Saturday's SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler cited Daniels as a "name to watch" for the Raiders in the 2024 NFL draft:

"Jayden Daniels out of LSU is a name to watch, as I've talked to a few teams who have pointed out Antonio Pierce, who was with him at ASU back in the day, loves him. Of course, he went to LSU, won the Heisman, could be a top 3 pick. Raiders pick 13th, so they would have to make a huge jump to get up there and get him, but it's at least a possibility."

If it wasn't clear during the season when Jimmy Garoppolo was benched after Josh McDaniels was fired as head coach, it seems obvious now that the 32-year-old won't be back for a second year in Las Vegas.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Friday that Garoppolo received a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy for not having a therapeutic use exemption for a prescribed medication.

Schefter also noted the Raiders are expected to release Garoppolo, who signed a three-year, $67.5 million contract last offseason, before the fifth day of the new league year when he will be owed an $11.25 million roster bonus.

If the Raiders hope to draft Daniels, they are most likely going to have to make a significant trade to make it happen. The LSU star has seen his stock skyrocket after an impressive 2023 performance.

B/R's NFL scouting department has Daniels going No. 3 overall to the New England Patriots. The Raiders own the 13th pick in the first round and nine total in the 2024 draft, with one in each of the first six rounds.

One recent example of a team moving from outside the top 10 picks into the top three was the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 when they drafted Trey Lance. They dealt four picks to the Miami Dolphins, including three first-rounders, to move up nine spots from 12 to three.

If the Raiders come out of the evaluation process believing that Daniels is a true franchise quarterback, giving up a package like that would seem like a small price to pay.

But given how many other issues the Raiders have with their roster right now, they better be absolutely sure about Daniels' ability if he's the quarterback they like because it could set them back even further if it doesn't work out.