The Las Vegas Raiders have already answered their biggest offseason questions by hiring veteran head coach Pete Carroll and making a surprise trade for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. However, they’ve still been linked to top draft prospect Shedeur Sanders, especially after he and Smith were recently spotted together.
One NFL analyst, though, believes Las Vegas is better off without Sanders and suggests they avoid the potential headache of drafting him.
Analyst Urges Raiders Not to Draft Shedeur Sanders in 2025 NFL Draft
At 34 years old, Smith won’t be the Raiders’ franchise quarterback for years to come, which is why a recent viral post has sparked discussion in the NFL Draft community.
In an Instagram post shared by Colorado quarterback Sanders, he and Smith were seen together, seemingly exchanging stories. That set off speculation that the Raiders might be targeting him in the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, FS1’s “First Things First” co-host Chris Broussard believes neither Smith nor Sanders would want to play together in Las Vegas.
“If I’m Shedeur, I’m not trying to go there. And if I’m Geno, I don’t want him there!,” he said.
Broussard argued that if the Raiders draft Sanders, his father and Colorado head coach, Deion Sanders, would push for him to play immediately, which could create a headache for the Raiders after they just gave up a third-round pick for Smith.
“If you’re the Raiders, because you know Deion, where there’s a strong chance Deion wants him playing right away. So if I’m the Raiders, I don’t want that headache because I would think Geno’s my quarterback for the next two, three years. Yes. So no, they shouldn’t draft him.”
“If I’m Shedeur, I’m not trying to go there. And if I’m Geno, I don’t want him there!”
— @Chris_Broussard on Sanders’ IG Story with the Raiders' new QB1 pic.twitter.com/FaTV5GoXtm
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 17, 2025
The Raiders hold the No. 6 overall pick, making it tough to land a top quarterback, especially in a year where the consensus is that there are two first-round-caliber quarterback prospects — Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward.
With Ward emerging as the consensus top QB in the class, Sanders could slip enough to put the Raiders in striking distance. In PFSN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the New York Giants are projected to take Sanders at No. 3 overall, though the Raiders could trade up to secure him.
Sanders is coming off a dominant season, leading the Big 12 in completion rate (74.0%), passing yards (4,134), and passing touchdowns (37). He’d be a dynamic addition for any team looking for a franchise quarterback, and while Broussard believes he would be a headache for the Raiders, Sanders’ strong relationship with minority owner Tom Brady suggests otherwise.
Sanders and Brady Have a Strong Relationship
Brady has a long-standing connection to Sanders and his father.
As a four-star quarterback at Trinity Christian School, Sanders trained with Brady, and in 2022, Brady signed him to an NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal with his Brady brand and Nobull — the first athlete he ever signed.
Brady has mentored Sanders over the years and famously texted him after Colorado’s upset win over TCU in 2023, saying: “Don’t be satisfied.”
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Raiders make an aggressive move for Sanders, especially if they want to give Carroll, 73, an easy transition from Smith, who has one year left on his deal, to his next quarterback.