Former general manager points to Denver quarterback
Now that Tom Telesco is no longer with the Las Vegas Raiders he can spill the tea … and he is regarding the team’s 2024 quarterback draft plans.
Telesco has been quiet since his surprising firing as the Raiders’ general manager in January after just one season with the franchise. Yet, Telesco has resurfaced with an interview with The 33rd Team.
In the podcast, Telesco was asked about the team’s plan at quarterback in that draft.
Tom Telesco: Inside the NFL Draft Room w/ Former Chargers & Raiders GM https://t.co/8mYafOv0V3
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) June 5, 2025
Telesco gave a long explanation. Basically, he said there wasn’t any quarterback after Jayden Daniels, who went to the Washington Commanders at No. 2, that the Raiders felt comfortable trading up for because of the high cost and the impact it would have on a incomplete roster.
Yet, when it came to the No. 13 pick, Telesco indicated that the Raiders did have a quarterback on their radar —- Oregon’s Bo Nix, who ended up going to the Denver Broncos one pick earlier.
“That would’ve been a good possibility,” Telesco said of Las Vegas selecting Nix.
That means the Raiders likely would have passed on Washington’s Michael Penix (who went to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 8) and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy (who went to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 10).
The Raiders were rumored to want Penix. Telesco said the team considered Penix “but in the end, probably not.” There were some medical and durability concerns about Penix leading up to the draft and Telesco said that was a factor in Raiders’ plan not to draft him at No. 13 if he were available.
However, had the Broncos not taken Nix, he may still be in the AFC West but wearing the Silver and Black.
Of course, things worked out just fine for the Raiders as they tabbed the falling Brock Bowers at No. 13. The Georgia product simply shattered all kinds of tight ends records as a rookie.