Raiders Fail to Get a Quarterback but Settle for the Highest Rated Tight End

The Las Vegas Raiders went into the 2024 NFL Draft with a glaring need at quarterback, a reality widely recognized and anticipated to be addressed with a decisive move. Despite head coach Antonio Pierce’s hopes and pre-draft statements about being aggressive in the quarterback hunt, the Raiders found themselves unable to execute their plan.

The draft’s dynamics rapidly shifted with unexpected picks and trades, starting with the Atlanta Falcons, who, despite having recently secured quarterback Kirk Cousins with a substantial contract through 2025, chose quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at the eighth overall pick. Meanwhile, coveted QB prospects like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye were off the board within the first three picks, further tightening the competition for top-tier quarterbacks.

The Raiders’ inability to trade up for a quarterback like Jayden Daniels, who was taken second overall by the Washington Commanders, was a significant setback. General Manager Tom Telesco admitted post-draft that the team had considered moving up but found the market conditions unfeasible, describing their efforts as not “particularly hard.” This strategic decision left the Raiders without a new quarterback in the early rounds as the first twelve picks included six quarterbacks, ultimately making the cost of trading up prohibitively high.

Odds Move Slightly

According to Oddschecker, the long odds of the Las Vegas Raiders winning the 2025 Super Bowl have moved only slightly following the first three days of the 2024 NFL Draft, from +8000 to +8500. The team’s inability to secure a high-profile quarterback to address their most pressing need has left oddsmakers and bettors skeptical about their immediate prospects for significant improvement. This stagnation in odds reflects a broader sentiment that while Bowers may enhance the team’s offensive capabilities, the quarterback position, crucial for a deep playoff run, still lacks a long-term solution.

Shifting Focus

With quarterback options dwindling, the Raiders shifted focus and selected Brock Bowers, the top-ranked tight end in the draft, with their first-round pick. Bowers, a standout from Georgia, is a two-time John Mackey Award winner and had an exceptional college career that promises significant immediate impact. While not a traditional blocking tight end, his versatility and prowess in the passing game were too compelling to pass up.

The significance of a premier tight end has been underscored by the performances of tight ends like Mark Andrews, Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Sam LaPorta in recent conference championship games, highlighting the role a top-tier tight end can play in a team’s success. Bowers’ addition, therefore, could be a silver lining for the Raiders, bringing a dynamic offensive weapon to the roster. However, the question of who will throw him the ball remains pressing.

The Raiders will likely depend on Gardner Minshew II, a stop-gap quarterback signed in the offseason, as they continue to evaluate their long-term options at the position. While they missed out on securing a rookie quarterback to develop, securing Bowers provides a valuable asset for whoever eventually takes over as the Raiders’ future quarterback, ensuring that the new signal-caller has a high-caliber target from the get-go.