Add Mel Kiper Jr. to the growing list of people who believe Michael Penix Jr. is going to hear his name called early in the 2024 NFL draft.

ESPN's draft expert wrote Thursday that Penix is "liked" by several teams picking in the teens, and he won't "last past" the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 13.

As the draft has gotten closer, the hype for Penix going in the first round has grown. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday the Washington star "seems to be rising up draft boards" and the feeling among several teams is he will be picked on Day 1 (starts at 1:50 mark).

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce hasn't been shy when talking about the need to make sure they have a quarterback who can make them competitive in the AFC West.

Las Vegas did sign Gardner Minshew II to a two-year, $25 million contract in free agency. He gives the team a potential bridge option if it doesn't come away with a quarterback in the draft, but at this point, it would be a surprise if that doesn't happen.

There's also the possibility the Raiders try to trade up for someone like Jayden Daniels, who played at Arizona State when Pierce was an assistant on the staff. CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported there is mutual interest between Daniels and the Raiders.

That scenario would seem difficult for the Raiders to pull off. Daniels is assumed to be the preferred choice for the Washington Commanders at No. 2. The Raiders would have to put together an incredible trade offer that would drop Washington down 11 spots, taking it out of the market for the top-tier quarterbacks in the draft, to get the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.

If the Raiders view Penix as the right quarterback to lead their offense and they can get him without having to move up, there's no reason not to just take him. He would be walking into a solid situation with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers as the top two wide receivers.