The Las Vegas Raiders are committed to Antonio Pierce. The team removed his interim coaching tag immediately after the 2023 season and named him full-time head coach.
Pierce and the Raiders traveled to Indianapolis this week for the NFL Combine, and the head coach gave insight into what he wants at quarterback in 2024.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but Telesco better start working his magic,” Pierce said with a smile of general manager Tom Telesco’s offseason strategy.
“I told him, ‘Now it’s your turn. All eyes are on you. I’m going to be undefeated for another six months.'”
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Tom Telesco (left) and Antonio Pierce attend their induction press conference at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters and Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on January 24, 2024 in Henderson, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Raiders hold the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jaden Daniels are this year’s top quarterback candidates. If the Raiders don’t want to trade or sign a veteran quarterback in free agency, the team could elect to trade up to acquire one of the top young signal callers.
Raiders’ Antonio Pierce explains ‘Jordan rules’ he will use against Patrick Mahomes next season
“I think that’s something Telesco has already talked about, but that’s my personality,” Pierce said of the possibility of a trade to move higher in the draft. “As you’ve seen and witnessed, I’m a go-getter. But obviously, it has to be a collective bargaining agreement.”
Last season, 2023 fourth-round draft pick Aidan O’Connell played starting quarterback duties in 10 games. The Raiders signed veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last offseason, but he struggled tremendously with seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in seven games.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell, 4, passes during the second quarter of a game against the New York Jets at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on November 12, 2023. (Sean M. Huffey/Getty Images)
The franchise plans to release Garoppolo later this offseason. Pierce explained what he’s looking for in the team’s next quarterback, saying he’s not interested in “band-aids.”
“Whoever we draft, that’s the path we’re going to take and I hope that’s the starter,” Pierce said. “You don’t want to put a Band-Aid on that position. It’s old…it’s old, dude. Raiders…we’ve seen it enough in this organization.”
Jimmy Garoppolo of the Las Vegas Raiders attempts a pass during the fourth quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on September 10, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
The Raiders play in the same district as the two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Pierce is looking for a quarterback who is willing to take on the challenge of facing the defending champions twice next season.
Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce runs off the field after the Raiders defeated the New York Giants 30-6 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on November 5, 2023. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“I want players who have leadership and want to compete. I want players who are not afraid of a challenge, because this is a big challenge in front of us. We have a world champion again in our division. As long as we have Patrick Mahomes in our division, we know what we have to deal with every year,” Pierce said.
“I want someone who’s going to say, ‘You know what? I’m up for the challenge.'” That’s the same perspective we have when we go up against these three coaches in this division.
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Pierce added that he is looking for a signal-caller with a proven ability to win.
“We need people who have been battle-tested, who have overcome adversity, who have had their challenges, who have not just been handed the keys, because whatever we do, that will be the process here. ,” Pierce said.
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