The Las Vegas Raiders have already answered the biggest question of their offseason by hiring veteran head coach Pete Carroll and making a surprise trade for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
Following Gardner Minshew II’s release, Smith is expected to immediately step in as the Raiders’ starting quarterback in Year 1 of Carroll’s tenure, with incumbent Aidan O’Connell backing him up.
However, a recent social media post has reignited rumors about the Raiders’ 2025 NFL Draft plans and what it could mean for Smith’s long-term future with the team.
Shedeur Sanders, Geno Smith Take Viral Photo, Fueling Raiders QB Rumors
Smith finished 15th in PFSN’s QB+ rankings in 2024, ending the campaign with a 77.6 QB+ grade. While far from elite, that was a better finish than both O’Connell (20th, 73.8 grade) and Minshew (35th, 60.6).
Smith isn’t a long-term solution, and the Raiders have less talent on their roster than the Seahawks have had in recent seasons. Still, for the menial cost of a third-round pick (and a $31 million cap hit), he can help Carroll usher in a new era of Las Vegas football.
At 34 years old, Smith won’t be the Raiders’ franchise QB for years to come, which is why a recent viral post has caught fire in the NFL Draft community.
In an Instagram post shared by Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, he and Smith were seen together, seemingly exchanging stories.
👀 Interesting IG post from Shedeur Sanders 👀 pic.twitter.com/8bomKkQX7B
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) March 16, 2025
The Raiders hold the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft order, which makes it tough to land a top quarterback, especially in a year where the consensus is that there are two first-round caliber QB prospects — Sanders and Miami (FL)’s Cam Ward.
However, with Ward emerging as the consensus top QB prospect in the class, Sanders could fall enough to put the Raiders in striking distance. In PFSN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the New York Giants are projected to select Sanders at No. 3 overall, though the Raiders could always 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 QB.
It’s also worth noting that Raiders minority owner and NFL legend Tom Brady has a strong connection to Sanders and his father, Deion Sanders.
As a four-star quarterback at Trinity Christian School, the younger Sanders trained with Brady, and in 2022, Brady signed him to an NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal with Brady’s brand with 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 a shock to see the Raiders make an aggressive play for Sanders, especially if they want to give Carroll, 73, an easy transition from Smith (one year left on his deal) to his next quarterback. If Sanders’ latest post is any indication, he may already be envisioning himself in Las Vegas.