Tom Telesco and the Raiders' 2024 NFL Draft plans were a lot different than everyone thought

It all started at pick No. 8. The Atlanta Falcons were on the clock and about to do the craziest thing we had seen in years. The Las Vegas Raiders were waiting for Michael Penix, the quarterback from Washington, to fall into their arms at No. 13. Then, the Falcons ruined it for everyone.

After giving Kirk Cousins a huge contract in free agency, which is fully guaranteed through 2025, they decided they would draft Penix at No. 8, essentially wasting a first-round, top-ten draft pick. They had way bigger needs than the quarterback, and when they tried to explain their decision, everyone continued to laugh at them. But that's a different story for another day.

The Raiders could not trade up for QB Jayden Daniels, who went No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders, as most of us thought he would. Their next or top prospect, I should say, was Penix, as quarterback is their biggest need. So, when that happened, you can assume they had cornerback and offensive tackle on their mind.

Then we thought maybe the Raiders would start considering drafting a quarterback in rounds 2-7. But they never did. That told us that maybe they could never get in the right draft position to get a quarterback they thought was fair value.

After hearing Tom Telesco talk about the draft, I realized that the Raiders never tried to get a quarterback after round one.

"On the third day? No," Telesco said after the draft was over when asked if he thought about drafting a QB. "Really, not the second day either. The first day, yes. But not after that."

This tells me two things: They are very happy and confident that the two quarterbacks they have right now are good enough to get the job done. This also tells me that maybe they thought they could sign a good undrafted free-agent quarterback.

They ended up signing South Alabama QB Carter Bradley. We don't know what he will be, but he had some great moments at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

The quarterback room will consist of Aidan O'Connell, Gardner Minshew, Carter Bradley, and Anthony Brown Jr. going into training camp unless something happens before then.

The Raiders seem confident in what they have.