Shedeur Sanders is the early favorite to be the first quarterback taken in the 2025 draft, and some believe he might be angling to be drafted by the Raiders.
If that’s the case, we could be moving towards a draft situation the NFL hasn’t witnessed in 21 years.
Back in 2004, Eli Manning was considered by most to be the top quarterback prospect in the draft. Manning made history that year when he decided he would not play for the Chargers, who owned the top pick in the draft.
“It was my decision having talked with my agent, coaches, [general managers] and owners,” Manning recounted in 2021. “Going through the draft process, I was just worried about the Chargers organization at the time. I felt it was the right decision and I had a little pull. I quietly tried to say ‘Hey, please don’t draft me, it can be our secret,’ and they didn’t keep the secret part very well.”
Earlier this year, Deion Sanders said a similar scenario could play out with his son, Shedeur.
“I know where I kind of want them to go,” Deion said in March about Shedeur and teammate Travis Hunter. “And let’s not forget Shilo [Sanders]. But I know where I want them to go. There’s certain cities where it ain’t going to happen. …It’s going to be an Eli [Manning].”
Sanders didn’t say where he wants Shedeur to play, but ESPN’s Mel Kiper thinks the Raiders should be the choice.
”I think it would be Las Vegas,” Kiper said on ESPN’s Unsportsmanlike.
“I think Las Vegas, Brady and him have that thing going. He kind of had that Brady feel where he’s precise, he’ll check down, he’ll do those things, he’ll [push] the ball downfield like Brady always says you have to do… Las Vegas would be picking sixth if the draft were held today… I think Shedeur would make the most sense.”
Raider Nation Radio’s Q Myers reacted to Kiper’s comments this week, and he believes Brady’s relationship with Sanders is something that can’t be ignored.
“This is a factor to remember Raider Nation. He’s also coached up and trained by Tom Brady,” Myers said this week on his Locked on Raiders podcast.
“Tom Brady is now a minority owner of the Silver and Black. And there’s conversations about him potentially finding the Raiders next quarterback and help training him up. There’s already proof of pictures, videos of Tom Brady and Shadour Sanders working together. So when you start to put the dots together, when you start to connect the dots, you can see where the path to Las Vegas is.”
There’s a lot of time between now and the draft, but if Sanders ends up forcing his son to the Raiders, the need for a top pick might not be as necessary.
If teams believe Sanders won’t play for them, most won’t risk a top 5 pick to call his bluff.
In other words, you might not have to root against the Raiders every Sunday in order to get Shedeur in the draft.
x: @raidersbeat
It’s a given Shedeur is who they are going to Try to pick , basically a lock. His dad might come too at some point , if AP can’t turn this pirate ship into “The Autumn Wind”. I say they swing Big and find a way to draft Travis Hunter also. Hate to say it , but this team needs to lose out this season get the top pick . Then package multiple future picks and draft the pair of Buffs . Like I said time to Swing Big RaaDuhs !!
He would be far worse for the organization than JaWalrus Russel ever was.
He comes with insurmountable baggage. His father.
Ooo no not again this is not going to happen again… don’t the Raider brain trust ever think… every year let’s try this or trade them for a superstar player… and then say he needs help let’s trade these two and get screwed again… get the offense front line situation fixed first unless you want him running for his life or even hurt… a good front line that can block and open holes for a running back can win without out spending so much money on one person… and if he gets hurt the team is screwed… get good players for starters and backups… get back to basics… the offensive line needs more work on the sled and road work they seem to peterout and get light headed… they need a line leader who can read the Defense and call the shots… also need a good Running back… the wiener who let J J walk is an ANUS HOLUS… COME BACK To CALIFORNIA… OAKLAND RAIDERS it just sounds right..
NUMBER 16 Deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame … awhile ago… it seems more like a popularity contest than what they accomplish … he won 2 super bowls … one as the first Wildcard team to ever win the Super Bowl… i still remember that pass to kenny king and down the side line he was gone… as Bill king said TouchDown Raiders… bob Chandler cliff branch… no big names just players playing Raider Football… and the Defense was Dynamite… just players playing Raider Football… no big superstars they made themselves a superstar unit… and Team…
I’m doing a little scouting on sheuder Sanders today in the first half against Texas tech, so far not really impressed.