With their 15-9 loss to the Falcons on Monday night, the Raiders moved a step closer to earning the top pick in the draft. Every indication is that they are going to target a quarterback in the draft, and the bigger question involves which quarterback they are going to take.
The last time the Raiders drafted a quarterback in the first round was 2007 and many believe they are on a collision course to draft Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders if they get the opportunity in the 2025 draft.
“If I had to pick today and not based on who would I pick, but just what I think if the Raiders keep the pick… I think it will be Shedeur Sanders,” Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter recently said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast. “It’s who I believe the Raiders will pick. Again, that’s not me saying I don’t want them, I do want them. You’re asking me what I feel. I would say [Shedeur].”
But what will the Raiders do if they don’t have the first pick or don’t have an opportunity to draft Sanders?
It’s no secret that many believe this year’s draft class is one of the weakest quarterback classes in recent memory, but the Raiders still have to look at every option in the draft. Minority owner Tom Brady is expected to be involved in the search for the next Raiders quarterback, and he knows something about finding a quarterback late in the draft.
With the input of Brady, could the Raiders find a franchise quarterback in this year’s draft that isn’t named Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward?
On Monday, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar announced he will return for his senior season and that takes on potential QB target for the Raiders off the board. Still, there are some familiar names expected to enter the draft. A few months ago, some of these quarterbacks were more enticing prospects than they are today, but the Raiders will do their due diligence on them all.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper listed his top 10 quarterbacks expected to enter the 2025 draft, and his list predictably placed Sanders and Ward at the top. From there, it gets a little more complicated.
Here is a look at Kiper’s rankings alongside “Strengths and Weaknesses” as assessed by Pro Football Focus on the top 3 quarterbacks.
Kiper no. 1 quarterback prospect is Sanders, and he said in November that Sanders would be a perfect fit for the Raiders.
“Sanders will obviously go early, and the Raiders should be near the top of the draft. And I think about how new minority owner Tom Brady might impact the team’s draft decisions. Brady was super accurate, tough and excellent in the pocket during his playing career — which sounds a lot like the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sanders. The senior’s 73.3% completion rate is fourth in the country, and his 82.3 QBR from inside the pocket is 15th,” Kiper said.
“It seems like a really good fit for a Raiders team that needs a young starter under center,” Kiper continued. “After missing out on all six first-round QBs in the 2024 class, Las Vegas has gotten mediocre play from Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell this season. It’s time for a long-term fix.”
1. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Strengths:
• Strong, wide base with good size in the lower half to generate throwing power from his legs
• Repeatable, fundamentally sound throwing motion (high release point helps make up for smaller height)
• Good zip on passes within 25 yards
• Mental and physical toughness to step up and take a hit while delivering a throw
• Good feel/anticipation for attacking zone
• Slippery in the backfield despite lack of mobility
• Not afraid to look backside of the formation on scrambles
Weaknesses:
• Ball speed can die on him in the air beyond 40 yards
• Release speed is average-to-below-average
• Arm strength is average for NFL standards
• Doesn’t always finish throwing motion across the body
• Below-average mobility (high sack rate)
2. Cam Ward, Miami (Fla.)
Strengths:
• True sidearm release that is David Carr-esque
• Experienced and successful middle-of-field passer
• “Never say die” type of playmaker with good escapability
• Adequate arm strength for the NFL level
• Impressive and natural touch passer
Weaknesses:
• Holds the ball below the shoulders in his stance, which makes for a longer release
• Side arm release is exotic but feels too varied throw-to-throw
• Accuracy numbers are high, but that is more due to volume; true ball placement isn’t consistent
• Ball security (fumbling) needs to improve
3. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Strengths:
• Not just escapability but a true dual-threat athlete
• Good enough athlete to force missed tackles in space
• Twitchy athleticism evident in throwing motion speed
• Can show really nice touch/accuracy on deep passes
• Experienced RPO quarterback
Weaknesses:
• Accuracy/decision-making variance is large right now — plenty of highlight plays but also plenty of regrettable ones
• Holds the ball low and loose in his stance
• Accuracy can dip when he takes speed off his throw for shorter distances
• Can struggle seeing non-primary defenders
• Time to throw/sacks taken is far too high, even for “you take the bad with the good.”
4. Carson Beck, Georgia
Beck was once considered a candidate to the first-overall pick, but his stock took a nosedive in the last three months.
As a junior, Beck threw 24 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. This year, Beck has thrown for fewer yards, more touchdowns (28), and double the interceptions (12). Overall, Georgia’s offense has taken a step backward in Beck’s senior year and his draft stock is nowhere near what it was at the beginning of the season.
5. Quinn Ewers, Texas
There might not be anyone in the draft who watched their stock fall harder than Ewers.
Once a candidate to be a top 10 pick, Ewers is considered by many to be a day 3 pick in the draft. His decision-making doesn’t seem to have improved and now his durability is being called into question.
Once one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in high school, Ewers now looks like a marginal NFL prospect, who has been advised by some to stay in college for another year.
6. Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Rourke transferred to Indiana University after four years at Ohio University.
He has a little more size than Aidan O’Connell, but like O’Connell he doesn’t function well when plays break down. If you are looking for a quarterback to extend plays when pocket breaks down, Rourke isn’t going to be your guy.
7. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Some viewed Dart as a first-round pick a month ago, but he didn’t do his draft stock any favors in the last few weeks. Dart has shown questionable decision-making tendencies in Lane Kiffin’s pass-friendly offense and doesn’t have an elite NFL arm.
He has a better arm than some of his peers in this year’s draft, but compared to the top prospects of recent years, Dart doesn’t stand out in terms of arm strength.
Dart does have toughness and the ability to use his legs, but those skills only carry a quarterback so far at the NFL level without elite passing skills.
8. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
An intriguing prospect that is said to be moving up draft boards, Gabriel might not have the natural tools to be a great quarterback at the NFL level.
Gabriel doesn’t have a top-tier arm, and it will be interesting to see how tall he measures at the NFL combine. If he hits 6’0, it will be a big win for his draft stock.
The good news for Gabriel is that be brings a lot of intangibles to the table. Coaches will love him, but does he have the natural abilities to be an above-average quarterback in the NFL?
9. Kyle McCord, Syracuse
McCord still has a lot of room for development, but he has prototypical size and a strong arm. He can make all the throws, but accuracy has been an issue.
McCord isn’t particularly mobile, but he has experience in a pro-style offense and is able to operate under center and in shotgun. his upside might be a little higher than some of the players ahead of him on Kiper’s list.
10. Tyler Shough, Louisville
Shough is another player that could move up on the list in the months ahead. His size and athleticism are going to be enough to get the attention of teams.
At 6’5, 225 pounds, Shough seems to have big potential, but he has only started on full collegiate season. At 25 years old, he’s another older prospect that has bounced around the collegiate ranks. This year was his seventh college season after playing for the University of Oregon as a freshman in 2018.
It’s hard to know what kind of quarterback Tom Brady will want in Las Vegas, but it’s possible that a quarterback with lesser mobility will catch his eye. Brady wasn’t considered athletic by NFL standards (or any other standards for the matter) but turned in the greatest career of any quarterback to play the game.
For now, many expect Brady to lean toward Sanders as his no. 1 quarterback prospect, but there is a lot of time between now and the draft. With one more win the Raiders could fall back to the 7th-overall pick, and that could be a position that removes the possibility of Shedeur being an option for the Raiders.
x: @raidersbeat
Seriously, if we don’t get Shedeur or Cam, has anybody looked at Tommy Mellott from Montana State? He’s only 6′ but has a good arm, great sense of the game, and can run when needed like an antelope. I think he’s an overlooked gem that would do well in the RPO-type offense.
I think that if the Raiders are not completely in love head over heels if they get the #1 pick with either of the top 3 QB’s then they should draft Travis Hunter!! And then take Carson Beck in the second round. Then continue to build both sides of the lines because we still can’t stop the run