The Las Vegas Raiders are committed to Antonio Pierce. The team removed the interim coach tag from him shortly after he finished the 2023 season and named him full-time head coach.
Pierce and the Raiders traveled to Indianapolis for the NFL Combine this week, and the head coach gave an idea of what he hopes to have as a quarterback in 2024.
“I don't know how it's going to play out, but Telesco better start working its magic,” a smiling Pierce said, referring to 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 six more months.'”
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Tom Telesco, left, and Antonio Pierce attend an introductory press conference at the Las Vegas Raiders Headquarters/Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center on January 24, 2024, in Henderson, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Raiders have the 13th pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels are this year's top quarterback prospects. If the Raiders don't want to trade or sign a veteran free agent quarterback, the team could opt to trade up to secure one of the top young signal-callers.
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“I'm sure it's something Telesco has already talked about, but that's my personality,” Pierce said of potentially making a trade to move up in the draft. “As you saw and witnessed, I am ambitious. But, obviously, that has to be a collective agreement.”
Last season, Aidan O'Connell, a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft, handled starting quarterback duties for 10 games. The Raiders signed veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last offseason, but he struggled mightily, throwing seven touchdowns and nine interceptions in his 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 on November 12, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
The franchise is expected to release Garoppolo later this offseason. Pierce explained what he's looking for in the team's next quarterback, saying he wasn't interested in a “Band-Aid.”
“I hope that whoever we draft, that's the route we take, that's the starter,” Pierce said. “You don't want to put a Band-Aid on that position. That's old… that's old, man. I think the Raiders… we've seen that enough in this organization.”
Jimmy Garoppolo of the Las Vegas Raiders attempts a pass during the fourth quarter 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 division as the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Pierce is looking for a quarterback who won't back down from the challenge of facing the two-time defending champions next season.
Interim head coach Antonio Pierce of the Las Vegas Raiders runs off the field after the Raiders defeated the New York Giants, 30-6, at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 5, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“I want a guy who can lead, who wants to compete. I want a guy who is not afraid of challenges because this is a big challenge that we have in front of us. We have the world champions in our division again. You know what you have to deal with deal every year as long as you have Patrick Mahomes in our division,” Pierce said.
“I want someone who says, 'You know what? I'm up for that challenge.' That's how I see it against these three coaches in this division.”
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Pierce added that he is looking for a caller who has a proven ability to win.
“You want someone who's been battle-tested, who's been through adversity, who's had challenges, and who hasn't just been handed the keys. Because that's going to be the process here no matter what we do,” Pierce said.
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