The Las Vegas Raiders and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders feel like a match made in heaven. Las Vegas is one of the biggest markets in the NFL, and Sanders has a spotlight on him that few can compare to.
The big question leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft is whether Sanders will even be on the board when the Raiders pick at No. 6. The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants all hold top-three selections and could target the Buffaloes star quarterback. That doesn’t even account for the possibility of a surprise trade-up.
One scenario that hasn’t been widely discussed is Las Vegas passing on Sanders—but that’s exactly what a recent mock draft predicts.
Who Would the Raiders Draft Instead of Shedeur Sanders?
The offensive line is one of the biggest holes on Las Vegas’ roster, particularly on the interior. That’s why NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund predicts the Raiders will shockingly pass on Sanders in favor of Alabama interior lineman Tyler Booker.
“I know some people might argue an IOL in the top 10 isn’t sexy, but I don’t know if there’s anything more desirable than creating a fortress for a QB to operate behind,” Frelund wrote. “The Alabama product kept his base lowest for the longest of any offensive lineman in this draft class, and his size is right in the sweet spot for an interior blocker.”
With this year’s draft class relatively thin at the position, the Raiders could prioritize shoring up their offensive line before selecting a franchise quarterback. On the other hand, Las Vegas’ offense ranked No. 29 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, which could push them toward drafting a high-profile playmaker to energize their fan base.
This projected decision by the Raiders would allow Sanders to fall to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9, where he would be surrounded by talented playmakers like wide receiver Chris Olave and running back Alvin Kamara.
“The Saints’ coaching vacancy throws a bit of a wrench into my model’s pick for New Orleans, but Sanders would be an exceptional value at No. 9, no matter who lands the job,” Frelund wrote.
“My model is high on Sanders for his accuracy and very high on him for his playmaking skills on downs after he’s been pressured. In that latter area, he ranks near the top among all QB prospects in my 10-season sample.
“If you use that metric as a proxy for toughness, and then consider his relatively small size for his position, it’s even more impressive,” Frelund concluded.
Tyler Booker is my favorite player in this draft pic.twitter.com/ab4yPRS45C
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) January 29, 2025
The Saints’ current quarterback, Derek Carr, ranked No. 11 in PFN’s QB+ metric, a strong mark considering his recent performance. However, at 33 years old, Carr is entering the latter stage of his career and could soon transition into more of a mentor role.
Sanders might be frustrated if he slips to No. 9, although he recently said it’s more about the fit of where he lands rather than how high he is selected. At the same time, it could serve as motivation to prove doubters wrong. A later selection might fuel him to play with an even bigger chip on his shoulder.
The Colorado quarterback has a confident personality, but landing in New Orleans could allow him to focus solely on football, develop under the right system, and maximize his potential.
Where Does Shedeur Sanders Get Drafted in PFSN’s Latest Mock Draft?
In Ian Cummings’ 7-Round February Mock Draft that was published on PFSN, he has the Cleveland Browns taking Sanders second overall.
Cummings says, “If the Browns weren’t already aware, Myles Garrett’s trade request was the strongest indication they could get: Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry have to cut loose from the Deshaun Watson plan and re-invest at QB to start anew.
“Shedeur Sanders is the next man up in the 2025 NFL Draft QB class, and he has some QB1 buzz. He’s not quite the playmaker that Ward is, but Sanders thrives pre-snap, he’s calm and collected in the pocket, his arm is strong, and his accuracy is top-shelf at its peak.”
Coach Prime on why Shedeur Sanders is QB1 in the NFL Draft and him not playing on a Loaded Team like Alabama or Georgia :
“He’s never had the best of, But he’s made the best of” 🔥pic.twitter.com/XUWBYhLHKp
— We Coming 🦬 (@SkoBuffsGoBuffs) February 7, 2025
For the Raiders, he has them selecting RB Ashton Jeanty from Boise State.
Cummings said, “That’s right. Running backs matter again. And a running back like Ashton Jeanty can be an offense’s most valuable player. Jeanty is a special RB talent, with a near-generational evasion fusion that combines elusiveness, contact balance, vision, and relentlessness.”
This jives with what new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said about his offensive philosophy during his introductory press conference in late January.
“I’ve had pretty good success with my quarterback in the past, going all the way back to college days and they’ve all turned out to be really extraordinary members of our club,” Caroll said.
“There’s a way to embrace the challenge that the quarterback has from the rest of the football team as well. We need to support our guy, and we need to do what we can to make that work. It’s really about making a great football team around the quarterback position.”
With current quarterback Aidan O’Connell unlikely to be the long-term answer, and with a shallow pool of first-round quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Jeanty makes a lot of sense to the Raiders to start building around whoever their QB will be this year and in the future.