The Raiders are expected to take a quarterback in the upcoming draft, and the chances of that happening might be even better than advertised.
According to Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer, the Raiders could be operating under a directive from the top to take a quarterback in the draft.
“I’ve heard the football people there could be under a mandate to draft a quarterback in April,” Breer reported on Tuesday. “And if that’s the plan, whoever the head coach is will have a pretty big impact on who that quarterback is, and how he develops early in his career. This makes the question whether Mark Davis believes Pierce would be the right guy to captain the ship.”
Breer didn’t specifically say the “mandate” would come from Davis, but where else would it come from?
Last year, Davis reportedly gave his blessing to GM Tom Telesco to make any move that made sense to get a quarterback in the draft.
“Sources say Raiders owner Mark Davis has given his blessing for Telesco and Pierce to make a move, any move… so long as it makes sense,” ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez reported in April of last year.
The Raiders are believed to have made a massive trade offer to the Washington Commanders for Jayden Daniels, but the Commanders weren’t willing to trade the pick.
This year, the Raiders might find themselves in a better draft position, but there doesn’t appear to be as much quarterback talent at the top of the draft.
Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are generally considered to be the top quarterbacks in the 2025 draft, but the consensus seems to be that neither would have been drafted ahead of Daniels and Caleb Williams a year ago.
“If we’re being honest for a second, this year’s quarterback class, as we’ve said for months is not very good in the draft,” Yahoo and FOX Sports host Jason Fitz said in November. “I’ve talked to a couple of guys who I think are smart in the draft, and I’ve asked them all the same question. Whoever your top quarterback is in this year’s draft, where would they have ranked in last year’s draft. Everybody I’ve talked to and asked that specific question has given me the same answer: “Sixth. Behind Bo Nix.”
Assuming he is back next year, Raiders GM Tom Telesco is going to face a critical decision with the team’s first pick. Telesco might get input from minority owner Tom Brady as part of the process, and according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, there is already a strong leaning within the organization to draft Sanders.
“I think the general consensus in the National Football League and everywhere else is if [the Raiders] can maneuver to get Shedeur, it is going to be Shedeur,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast last week.
“I’m not yet ready to call that pick,” he continued. “But I think I’m as confident in a November Pre-Thanksgiving pick as ever, that that’s going to be the guy they’re going after.”
x: @raidersbeat
S T F U on the Sanders wagon. Get a clue.
I’d keep AOC and trade down the 2nd or 3rd pick… there is some Crazy *** NFL team Desperate to Stay Bad and will trade up to Take one of the 2nd round graded QB this year. With the Picks take OL and DL Build a Great Team and then get the QB..
what about the qb from Oregon, kids pretty good and can escape pressure.
I have been a Raiders Fan since 1968 I’m 63 now it’s not the coach. Look at the players they are not blocking, tackling, catching. We absolutely don’t have a Quarterback as for Gardner Minshew he should not be able to put on a Raiders uniform ever again. Now they need to get a Quarterback and the answer is Saunders from Colorado
Get rid of Wilson going on 3 years he doesn’t have 5 sacks and that is being soft!!!!! Please bring back some old fashioned Raiders hard hitting defense.
Mark Davis isn’t as vocal as his dad Al but he is the final say in any decision made. The GM has never been made a independent decision no matter who it has been.
trade Dallas a 3rd round pick for Dak
Cam Ward and Miami just got a taste of Syracuse QB Kyle McCord. The former Ohio State QB can really sling it. I don’t know how he’s viewed in terms of fitting into the pro game but he’s very smart, has good pocket presence and is mobile enough to keep plays alive. And most importantly he knows how to win.
It seems crazy to me to Sanders would be ranked lower than Nix was going into last year’s draft without any benefit of hindsight based on Nix’s rookie year.
But just like the guy who is going to make this decision for the Raiders, reportedly, I don’t have any scouting or personnel experience, lol