The Las Vegas Raiders will be looking for a quarterback next offseason after their attempts with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell didn’t work out in 2024. One quarterback the Raiders are likely considering in the 2025 NFL Draft is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
Sanders is seen as one of the top quarterback prospects for next year, though there are differing views on how high he will be picked. Currently, the Raiders are in a good position to select him, as they hold the No. 6 spot in the 2025 draft order heading into Week 9, according to Tankathon.
In a recent article discussing the best fits for ten different draft prospects, ESPN’s Mel Kiper connected Sanders with the Raiders. He mentioned that having Tom Brady as a new part-owner is a key reason why Sanders would fit well in Las Vegas.
Sanders is expected to be a high pick, and the Raiders should be positioned near the top of the draft. Kiper noted how Brady’s experience and skills as a player might influence the team’s draft choices.
Brady was known for his accuracy, toughness, and poise in the pocket, qualities that are similar to the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sanders. This senior has a 73.3% completion rate, ranking fourth in the nation, and his 82.3 QBR while in the pocket is 15th.
This looks like a strong match for a Raiders team that needs a young quarterback. After missing out on all six first-round quarterbacks in the 2024 draft, Las Vegas has seen average performances from Minshew and O’Connell this season. It’s time for a long-term solution.
General manager Tom Telesco needs to secure a young quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Sanders will be among the top choices available. Plus, having Brady around to offer guidance could be a big advantage if the Raiders are able to draft him.
Earlier this year, Deion Sanders expressed that he would be happy if his son played for the Raiders, mentioning head coach Antonio Pierce as one reason he likes that idea.
However, the excitement around Pierce’s role as the interim head coach has faded due to the team’s poor 2-6 record this season, which has featured several mistakes from him and his staff. Because of this, it’s uncertain whether Pierce will be back next year.
“That’d be nice,” Sanders said about his son playing for the Raiders. “I’m not a gambler, so I’m not with all that, but that would be nice. [The Raiders] have a wonderful head coach, and a wonderful president in this organization that I think I’m meeting today, actually.
That would be nice. I’ve been looking around the stadium. It’s a nice stadium.
“[Antonio Pierce is a] great man. Great leader. [He] earned the job. They didn’t give him anything. He earned the job. I love what he brings to the table. I don’t want him to lose to the point where he has the ability to get Shedeur. Let’s get that straight.
I don’t want that to happen, I really don’t, but I wouldn’t mind if, some kind of way, it happens that [Shedeur] is here. I don’t want [the Raiders to lose enough to have a top draft pick] to happen.”
Moving forward, the best outcome for the Raiders is to lose as many games as possible to increase their chances of selecting a top quarterback in next year’s draft.
Fortunately, the Raiders are struggling so much that it seems likely they will lose most of their remaining games. If Sanders is still available when they pick in 2025, the Raiders should definitely take the opportunity.
