Jayden Daniels praises Raiders HC Antonio Pierce

Although he's unsure whether he'll end up in Las Vegas, it sounds like LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels wouldn't mind playing for the Raiders.

"[Antonio Pierce] just as a human being, he's the right coach for [the Raiders]," Daniels said on a Sunday episode of the "Nightcap Show" with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson. "You know, just him and the intensity that he brings. He challenges people. He was challenging me at 18. So I know if I was to go to the Raiders — I'm not saying I'm gonna go there or I wanna go there, I wanna go wherever my name is called — if I was to go to the Raiders, I know as soon as I step foot, he's gonna challenge me."

Pierce recruited Daniels while he was an assistant coach at Arizona State, which is one reason he has been connected to the Raiders throughout the draft process. The 23-year-old also thanked Pierce in his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech in 2023.

According to Tankathon's projections, the Washington Commanders will take Daniels with the second overall pick of the draft, which starts on Thursday.

However, on a Friday episode of "The Pat McAfee Show," ESPN's Adam Schefter noted that Washington's recent predraft visit with Daniels included other quarterbacks, possibly upsetting his agent and creating friction.

If Washington passed on Daniels, the Raiders could try to trade up from No. 13 and take him. On Sunday, ESPN's Mike Reiss reported that the New England Patriots are willing to trade the third overall pick but want a colossal package.