Shedeur Sanders is among the most popular players in the 2025 NFL Draft and is widely expected to be among the top five picks this year.
However, Field Yates’ latest mock draft shook both fans and Sanders when he projected the Colorado quarterback to drop to the No. 6 spot to the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, it seems not only Yates thinks the Raiders are a good fit for the Colorado star.
NFL Analyst Makes Case for Shedeur Sanders To Go to the Raiders
During Yates’ analysis, he said that the Raiders might feel the need to try and move up the board to secure a quarterback; in that scenario, they can grab the “best pure passer in the draft” at No. 6.
Now, Steve Palazzolo, an NFL analyst for The 33rd Team, has also joined the Sanders-Raiders wagon and believes they’re a better fit for him than the New York Giants.
“It’s OK. It’s like, all right, we got Brock Bowers, and if we can at least get somebody, we feel good about having Bowers plus this quarterback to throw to Bowers. They need the opportunity, though; the way this one falls, they at least have the opportunity to bring someone in.”
“The Raiders are closer to having a viable offense around Shedeur than the Giants are."@SamMonsonNFL explains why it would be "fantastic for everyone" if Vegas landed Shedeur Sanders 👀🍿 pic.twitter.com/ESDuh9U43z
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) February 17, 2025
Agreeing with Palazzolo, Sam Monson also shared that he feels No. 6 is a better landing spot for Sanders as compared to if he was to go to the New York Giants as the Raiders are closer to having a viable offensive line around Sanders than the Giants.
While the Giants have a good wide receiver room with Malik Nabers, the Raiders have the upper hand with Bowers.
“I think it’s, you know, it’s a better landing spot for Shedeur as well than it would be if the Giants picked him,” Monson said. “… I think the Raiders are closer to having a viable offense around him than the Giants are. OK, they might not have, you know, the No. 1 wide receiver in Malik Nnabers, but they do have Bowers.
“Perhaps, more importantly for Shedeur, they’re closer to a good offensive line. … That’s not a bad pass-blocking unit that the Raiders have already. OK, there’s some weaknesses on it, but we can work on that, right? We’ve got an offseason to work with.”
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisc., from April 24-26.
Sanders’ Latest Mock Draft Fit, Prospect Analysis
In PFSN’s latest 2025 NFL mock draft, Anthony Pasciolla had Sanders go off the board at No. 4 overall, but with a surprise team trading up for the Colorado QB.
“Sanders could go off the board just one pick after his teammate — but not to a team he’s expecting. The New Orleans Saints are stuck in the middle of the pack with Derek Carr at the helm, which is why they made a shocking trade for Sanders,” Pasciolla wrote.
“Because the Colorado Buffaloes star lacks polish, he could sit behind Carr for at least half a season. The New England Patriots originally held this pick but likely wouldn’t be afraid to move down a few selections for additional assets down the line.”
READ MORE: Pasciolla’s 2025 NFL Mock Draft | Sanders’ NFL Draft Hub
According to his draft projection and summary, Jacob Infante wrote for PFSN that Sanders’ value in the 2025 NFL Draft is simple: “If you put a premium on the quarterback position, it’s pretty clear Sanders is a first-round value. If not, though, the decision is not so simple.”
Infante continued, saying, “Compared to the quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft, I would argue Sanders would come in seventh as a prospect, ranking behind each of the six quarterbacks selected in the first round. This might make him more of a Day 2 talent, but the 2025 NFL Draft has a severe lack of high-end quarterback value.
“Sanders arguably has the highest floor of any quarterback in the class, and he has the tools to become a solid starter in the NFL. In the right system, he could lead a team to a playoff run. Because of average physical tools, the ceiling likely does not go much further than that. However, a respectable starting quarterback is a valuable asset in today’s game, which should see him selected with a top-10 pick come April.”
