The Raiders were the rare team last year to bring in the top five quarterback prospects on “30” visits. That ended up being a smokescreen effort, with the team pleased to see three passers going in the top four. That allowed for a highly touted defensive prospect (Tyree Wilson) to fall to No. 7.
This year, the Raiders have been more transparent about their interest in drafting a QB. Michael Penix Jr. will meet with the team Thursday in Las Vegas, and SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Bo Nix will go through a visit on Friday in Nevada.
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The Oregon prospect looms as a player who may well be available at No. 13. While the Raiders have been tied closely to a trade-up effort, a Penix or Nix move would be an alternate route — one far less costly — the AFC West team may consider. Nix put together an eye-popping TD-INT ratio in his final season with the Ducks — 45-3 — but checks in as this draft’s fifth- or sixth-best QB prospect, illustrating the depth the 2024 class has supplied.
Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis and Hendon Hooker met with the Raiders last year. The team would have only had a shot, barring a trade-up move, at Levis or Hooker. The then-Dave Ziegler– and Josh McDaniels-led team opted not to address the position until Round 4. That pick became Aidan O’Connell. While O’Connell played a key part in the Raiders’ 2023 season, it appears likely the Purdue product will be competing with whomever the Tom Telesco– and Antonio Pierce-run team chooses early in this draft.
Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board slots Nix 29th and Penix 33rd. Both Pac-12 products put up monster numbers after transferring. Nix, who used his NCAA-provided fifth year of eligibility following the pandemic, transferred from Auburn in 2022. Nix completed 77.4% of his passes last season and totaled 510 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022. Stationed in less pass-friendly offenses at Auburn, Nix did not reach 20 TD passes in any of his three seasons there.
The Raiders have been more closely tied to a Jayden Daniels-driven move up the board, as Pierce is close with the former Arizona State recruit. But that would almost definitely cost at least two future first-rounders. If the team is not keen on paying that price — if such a deal even presents itself for the LSU product — the Nix-Penix tier would be a place to look. The Broncos, who have traded three first-round picks since 2022, may also be eyeing that prospect plane. This will add some intrigue to the draft, with neither AFC West team in position to land one of the top four QB prospects at their present draft slots; Denver holds the No. 12 choice.