NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: Raiders Have Had 'Exploratory Talks' To Trade for Top-3 Pick

The Las Vegas Raiders have engaged in "exploratory talks" regarding a move from No. 13 overall in the 2024 NFL draft to a top-three spot.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated revealed that news in response to a mailbag question from a reader who asked if the Raiders were "working to trade up, and if so, how far?"

"The Las Vegas Raiders have had exploratory talks on moving up into the top three," Breer wrote.

"Will they do it?" he continued. "I don't think the first three picks will wind up being traded, and, after you get past that, it depends on the team's evaluation of McCarthy (and maybe a couple others). And from there, it depends on whether it gets to the point where the former Michigan QB won't make it to No. 13 (which is certainly possible). We've still got a long way to go."

Presumably, that move up would entail selecting a quarterback. The latest Bleacher Report NFL Scouting Department mock draft has USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels going one-two-three.

The issue the Raiders face (and as Breer noted) is that they need a willing trade partner to allow them to move up.

Although the Chicago Bears still have Justin Fields, it appears by all accounts that they will be taking Williams with the No. 1 overall choice.

The Washington Commanders and New England Patriots need long-term solutions at quarterback, especially with the latter team ending the Mac Jones era by trading him to the Jacksonville Jaguars. So it makes sense for both teams to stay put and take quarterbacks.

Right now, Las Vegas has Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew competing to be QB1, both of whom are adequate starters capable of winning ballgames.

However, they have limited ceilings, so if the Raiders are looking for a blue-chip quarterback to build around, they need to move up.

Perhaps their best bet is trying to climb all the way up to No. 4 (currently owned by the Arizona Cardinals) if they are in favor of someone like Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, who has gained a ton of predraft steam in recent weeks.

Ultimately, a move up to the top three seems unlikely given the teams that occupy those spots. However, the Raiders can take solace in the fact that they are rolling into 2024 on the wave of great momentum from the end of last year, when then-interim (and now head coach) Antonio Pierce guided the team to a 5-4 record, including a win over the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.