Raiders’ Antonio Pierce Sends Eye-Opening Message on J.J. McCarthy
With the Las Vegas Raiders not picking until No. 13 in the 2024 NFL Draft, it will prove difficult for them to get one of the top three quarterbacks in the draft. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are widely considered the top three prospects but there’s another quarterback who has been flying up draft boards.
Former Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy has arguably been the biggest riser of the draft. There’s even some talk that he could work his way to being one of the first three quarterbacks off the board. Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce seems to think that McCarthy has a strong claim to being one of the first three players off the board at the position.
“I wouldn’t even put them in the next group of guys because there’s some people that probably see them as No. 2 or No. 3,” Pierce said during his March 25 media availability. “We don’t know everybody’s board. I think it’s a very talented group. We interviewed most of those guys at the combine. We had great conversations with them. J.J. McCarthy, you’re talking about a national champion, a winner. So, I don’t know how he’s not in the top three.”
Based on Pierce’s comments, it sounds like the Raiders would be comfortable drafting McCarthy if he were to be available to them. However, it’s looking more and more likely he won’t make it past the No. 4 pick. If Las Vegas thinks that McCarthy can be the quarterback of the future, the Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 would be the team’s best trade-up option.
Antonio Pierce Praises Michael Penix & Bo Nix
After J.J. McCarthy is off the board, Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix would likely be next in line. It’s debatable if either quarterback is worth a first-round pick, but Antonio Pierce gave them a lot of praise.
“And then you look at Bo Nix, I mean, what is it, 61 career starts? Like, come on, man,” Pierce said. “That’s crazy. Even Penix taking his guys to the national championship with the University of Washington.
