The 2024 NFL Draft presented one of the most dramatic quarterback runs in recent memory. As six quarterbacks were selected before the Las Vegas Raiders were on the clock at pick No. 13, there was growing speculation about which direction Vegas would ultimately go in the draft. Former general manager Tom Telesco recently offered rare insight into those discussions, revealing which quarterbacks were truly considered and which were not.
Tom Telesco Reflects on Raiders’ 2024 Draft Strategy at Quarterback
Appearing on the “Check the Mic” podcast, Telesco addressed whether the Raiders would have selected Michael Penix Jr. had he fallen to them. “We did a lot of work and talked a lot about [drafting Penix], but in the end, probably not,” he said. Telesco added, “Now, looking back, if I knew I only had one year there, maybe that would’ve been different.” His comment suggested that his long-term roster-building approach might have changed if he had known his tenure would be brief.
Telesco clarified that the Raiders were only strongly interested in one quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Former Raiders GM Tom Telesco reveals how Vegas viewed the QB class in last year’s draft 👀
“Other than Jayden Daniels, [trading up for a QB] was a non-starter.”
“Bo Nix would’ve been a good possibility [at 13].” https://t.co/3ZRSllV6fL pic.twitter.com/sa2wjnwI9M
— Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson (@CTM_Show) June 5, 2025
“Like Jayden Daniels, that one would have been easy. That’s an easy one,” he said. However, Daniels was off the board early, and Telesco was not inclined to trade up for others like J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix, or Penix. The reason was strategic. He explained that giving up multiple picks to move up would have hampered their ability to rebuild the overall roster. “To give up that many assets… we need as many as possible to build up the team,” he stated.
As for Penix, the concerns were primarily medical. Telesco pointed to the quarterback’s college injury history as a red flag. “Taking a quarterback that high, that has to be a concern,” he explained. Although Penix had healed and remained healthy in the NFL so far, his college durability still weighed heavily in the evaluation process.
Nix, on the other hand, received a more favorable assessment. “Bo Nix would’ve been a good possibility [at 13],” Telesco admitted. He cited Nix’s durability, movement skills, and background as intriguing attributes. Ultimately, Nix was selected one spot ahead of the Raiders by the Denver Broncos, making the decision moot.
Instead, the Raiders drafted tight end Brock Bowers, who delivered an All-Pro rookie campaign. Though the lack of quarterback success contributed to the dismissals of Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce, the team may now be better positioned. With Pete Carroll at head coach and veteran quarterback Geno Smith in place, Vegas can afford to be patient in its search for a long-term quarterback.