Even though he wasn’t drafted, Shedeur Sanders was the talk of the draft on Thursday night and that figures to be the case on Friday, as well.
This time, Shedeur is expected to be one of the first players taken in the second round and the Raiders (with pick no. 37) are among the teams within striking distance of drafting him.
Not a lot is known about the Raiders’ interest in Sanders, but ESPN’s Todd McShay thinks the Cleveland Browns may pass on Shedeur with both of their second-round picks and leave the Colorado quarterback on the board for the Raiders.
Here’s what McShay wrote on Friday morning about Shedeur, the Browns and the Raiders…
“At first glance, the Browns might make sense. Kevin Stefanski has had success with other pocket quarterbacks in Case Keenum and Kirk Cousins, who, like Sanders, excel as processors and lack high-end mobility...
But the more I think about it, the more it seems like Cleveland is passing on this year’s quarterback class entirely with eyes on a more talented group in 2026. I think that’s why instead of sticking and picking Travis Hunter at no. 2, Cleveland traded back to no. 5 and picked up an extra 2026 first-rounder in the process. It wouldn’t make much sense to draft a QB early in Round 2 if that is the plan, unless the goal is to get as many bites at the apple as possible.
I wouldn’t completely rule out Las Vegas. Sanders and Tom Brady have a relationship, and Chip Kelly could work with him. That wouldn’t shock me. Mike Tomlin also likes Shedeur, but the Steelers don’t pick until the third round, so they would likely have to move up to select him. The Rams, like the Browns, seem like a fit on paper, but they are also poised to attack the position in 2026. This is a long way of saying that I’m having a hard time identifying an ideal landing spot.”
At one point in the pre-draft process, Deion Sanders said there were teams he was not going to allow his son to play for, and it’s starting to feel like the elder Sanders might have overplayed his son’s hand a little.
There were reported concerns with Shedeur after his NFL Combine interviews, but the presence of Deion is another element that has hurt Shedeur’s draft stock.
The question now…
Will it be the Browns who take Shedeur with one of their two second round picks?
Or will the Raiders or Saints be the team that puts an end to Shedeur’s draft slide?
Based on Deion’s reaction to the Saints’ pick at no. 9 on Thursday night, it definitely looked like he was hoping Shedeur would go to New Orleans.
x: @raidersbeat
Browns can have him. With the 37th milroe.
Milroe will be a bust.
Can’t teach 4.3 speed John boy