Two of the Las Vegas Raiders' biggest needs going into the 2024 NFL draft are at quarterback and right tackle, and one analyst believes grabbing a certain player at each of those positions in the first two rounds would amount to a big win.
During his conference call with the media, analyst Daniel Jeremiah said a "home run draft" for Las Vegas would be selecting Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga at No. 13 overall and then trading back into the end of the first round to take Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
"I think, if you came out of this — if you asked me what is the home run draft for the Raiders and you told me they got Fuaga with the 13th pick and came back in the bottom of the first round and got Michael Penix, I'll be on the set in Detroit tipping my cap to Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce because I think that's an 'everything's gone perfect' type draft for me," he explained. "I think that gives you the hope of the future with Penix and addresses a huge, huge need and would actually give Penix a better opportunity at success, or whoever's playing quarterback for that matter, by nailing that. And if you love Penix, there's some risk involved there that maybe somebody else takes him, but man, if you pull it off and it works, I think that's a heck of a strategy."
In his most recent mock draft, Jeremiah had Las Vegas taking Penix Jr. at No. 13 overall, which is higher than many mocks have him going. He explained his reasoning behind that decision but noted that, in an ideal world, the Raiders grab Penix late in the first or early in the second.
"Sometimes you can simplify it with two things," Jeremiah said. "Number one, the quarterback is the most important position on the team. Is there an option that we're picking that's better than what we're playing with? That's why I came with the Penix thing.
"Penix is my 34th player, I think, as of my last update," he added. "13, that feels like it's a little rich, but I'm like, I don't know, if you told me that I've got to move forward and I've got Gardner Minshew, who I think is a quality two who can get you out of a game or two, but I don't know if you want him as your starter for the long term, and Aidan O'Connell, who's shown some good things. To me there's a huge talent gap there. To me, Penix has shown so much more ability (than Minshew or O'Connell)."
On top of right tackle and quarterback, Jeremiah agreed that cornerback is also a major need and suggested guys like Alabama's Terrion Arnold and Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell is the Raiders decide to go that route.
A combination of Fuaga and Penix Jr. would be fantastic for Las Vegas, although having to trade up into the first round would be expensive. Even still, if that's what it takes for the Raiders to grab a quarterback they truly believe in, they should do it.
