In October, NFL legend Tom Brady officially became a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. The seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP is front and center every Sunday as a broadcaster for FOX Sports, but he’s also intimately involved in the organization, as Raiders owner Mark Davis confirmed on Wednesday.
Mark Davis Reveals Tom Brady Will Play a Role in Las Vegas’ Draft Strategy
While meeting with the media and discussing whether Las Vegas will draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Raiders owner Mark Davis admitted that Brady will play a significant role in the team’s draft strategy.
Davis said that there’s no mandate for the Raiders’ decision-makers to draft a quarterback but acknowledged that Las Vegas needs to find a solution at the position.
When asked if he has a preference regarding who the Raiders pick in the first round of the draft, Davis made it clear who will be calling the shots during the draft process.
“You’d have to talk to [general manager] Tom Telesco. And, of course, Tom Brady at some point will have something to say in that,” Davis said.
"You'd have to talk to Tom Telesco," Davis said when I asked if he has a preference in the first round of the draft. "And, of course, Tom Brady at some point will have something to say in that." https://t.co/oqnKUgBedM
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) December 11, 2024
This isn’t a huge surprise. If Brady is part of your franchise, you might as well utilize him and hear what he has to say, especially when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks.
While Brady doesn’t have any front-office experience, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the NFL. Also, during his stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady played the role of recruiter quite often, as he was instrumental in bringing Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette, Antonio Brown, and Richard Sherman (plus getting key pieces to re-sign like Chris Godwin, Carlton Davis, Ryan Jensen, and Ndamukong Suh).
It’s worth noting that Brady has a close relationship with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is one of the top players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
When Sanders was a four-star QB at Trinity Christian School, Brady worked out with him. In 2022, when Shedeur was at Jackson State, Brady signed him to an NIL deal with his BRADY Brand — the first athlete Brady ever signed to an NIL or endorsement deal. After Colorado’s upset win over TCU in 2023, Brady texted him, “Don’t be satisfied.”
Bruh Tom Brady out here coaching Shedeur Sanders 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4i7cWimmGT
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) October 18, 2022
If Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce gets fired, people in NFL circles believe that Brady will also have input in the team’s coaching search. Could that lead to Colorado head coach Deion Sanders potentially becoming a serious candidate for Las Vegas’ vacancy?
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently added some fuel to that fire, describing the Raiders as a “potential fit” for Sanders and pointing out that Brady may push the team to hire him.
“The belief among many in the league is that Tom Brady, now a minority owner of the Raiders, will have some level of influence over major decisions, and team owner Mark Davis will covet his knowledge and insight,” Fowler wrote. “If Brady is looking for a fellow GOAT, Sanders has a compelling case as the best cornerback in NFL history.”
At 2-11, the Raiders have many needs, and this will be a big offseason for the franchise. We’ll see if Brady can work his magic and help Las Vegas get back on the right track.