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Raiders Rumors: Vegas Not Expected to Draft QB at No. 13 amid Michael Penix Jr. Buzz

Tyler Conway@@jtylerconwayX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVApril 11, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 02: Michael Penix #QB08 of Washington looks on during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 02, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly focused on drafting an offensive lineman or cornerback with the No. 13 pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Jordan Reid of ESPN reported the Raiders are shifting their focus away from quarterback and will instead try to fill one of their two biggest needs elsewhere on the roster.

Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Alabama's JC Latham are among the offensive tackles who could be available at No. 13. Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama's Terrion Arnold are considered the top two cornerbacks in this class.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce has publicly said the team's focus in this class is on three positions.

"Yeah man, there's some big boys now, that tackle group," Pierce said. "Like, you're talking about a bunch of trees walking around at the combine and at these pro days. It's impressive. You look at those three positions—quarterback, O-line and the DBs—it's a very talented, deep group."

The Raiders are among the teams linked to Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who has seen his name rise on draft boards in recent weeks. Penix is expected to be the fifth quarterback taken behind USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy.

While the Raiders clearly have a need for a long-term solution at quarterback—Gardner Minshew and Aiden O'Connell are currently set to compete for the job—it's hard to justify taking the fifth-ranked quarterback at No. 13 overall when the rest of the roster has so many needs.