The Las Vegas Raiders are one of those teams that are still in need of a quarterback. Although minority owner Tom Brady and head coach Pete Carroll have thrown their weight behind Geno Smith, the long-term QB position isn’t guaranteed yet. In this dilemma, the 2025 NFL Draft is approaching, and many are speculating that the Black and Silver will draft a quarterback, someone like Shedeur Sanders. But what if we tell you that’s not necessarily the direction the team will take with the sixth overall pick? What if Sanders slips down, and the Raiders decide to go for someone else? Sounds strange, but not impossible!

Remember, Shedeur Sanders met Raiders owner Mark Davis last year in a WNBA playoff game. Tom Brady’s business partner revealed his love and appreciation for the young quarterback, as well as praised his father, NFL legend Deion Sanders. The two greeted each other as if they were about to meet again in the draft. And why not? After all, Sanders is a classic dropback passer who is 1st in Colorado single-season passing yards (4,134). In addition, we can’t forget that he is the son of Coach Prime, boasting an NIL valuation higher than his father’s rookie contract at around $6.5 million. But the Draft might change things for him. How?

Talking about the same on the Rich Eisen Show, guest host Andrew Siciliano highlighted that Shedeur Sanders might see a slide and be the third QB drafted instead of the second. In addition, he speculated that the Raiders have already given a huge contract to their new QB Geno Smith. So it’s quite possible that the Raiders might skip on Sanders. Even Tom Pelissero jumped in, explaining the reason why the Raiders might not go with Sanders. He said, “The entire Geno Smith situation is really unique. Because based on the breakdown that Michael Florio had today saying that it’s $40 million in year one – that’s the same number that Seattle offered him and when he was insulted by that number, wasn’t willing to take it, they went – “All right, we’ll take a third round pick, sign Sam Darnold who’s 10 years younger for less money.””

So, now, as Smith is in Vegas, his contract doesn’t “preclude you from drafting a quarterback. It does, however, give the Raiders optionality, because they don’t feel the pressure to take a quarterback back to what you said about Shedeur (Sanders). If he doesn’t go two and doesn’t go three, this is, and I’m not making predictions about it right now. But you start to wonder if this is going to be one of those classics. He’s not going to be in the green room, he’s not going to the draft, but could this be one of those slides that we talk about in past years?”

All in all, as per the NFL insider, the real QB-needy teams are limited – maybe the Steelers, Saints or Rams, and perhaps the Raiders too. But it’s also true that Tom Brady’s team has no real need or urgency to draft a quarterback at No. 6 after Geno Smith’s contract. Then who could be the franchise’s Round 1 pick?

If not Shedeur Sanders for the Raiders at No. 6, then who?

The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching, kicking off on April 24. And the Raiders are sitting on a goldmine with that No. 6 pick. But the pressure’s real. New GM John Spytek knows that they’ve got holes to fill – corner, receiver, running back. But now, head coach Pete Carroll is calling the shots, and as we’ve described, they aren’t likely to stake their bet on Shedeur Sanders. Then who?

Well, according to the reports, all eyes are on Ashton Jeanty. We all know that the Raiders’ run game was dead last year, and so, this Boise State kid might be the jolt Pete Carroll’s side needs. Although some say it’s too early to pick a running back, talent like his doesn’t wait. After all, Jeanty is the one who recorded 4,769 rushing yards in three seasons with Boise. So, yeah, he could be the one to bolster their offense. But if Carroll finds the chance to pick Shedeur Sanders’s Colorado teammate and Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, he will likely do so.

No doubt, this prolific two-way threat is electric and game-changing. But let’s be honest – he might not drop till six. But even if he somehow does, Carroll won’t blink. Why? Because he is always chasing heart over position value. And Hunter? He’s got heart, talent, and fire in whichever role he’s assigned– Corner or receiver, he can shift momentum in seconds.

But if they miss out on Hunter, the Raiders could also go with Michigan’s Will Johnson. He is another top cornerback prospect. It’ll be interesting to see which direction Tom Brady’s Raiders take – Shedeur Sanders, Ashton Jeanty, Travis Hunter, Cam Ward (as suggested by Tom Pelissero), or some other name!