Raiders could try to draft Shedeur Sanders in 2025 NFL Draft | Raiders news

As Shedeur Sanders continues to project himself as a top prospect in April’s NFL Draft, the Colorado star may be leaving hints that he wants to play for the Raiders, who are suffering from a quarterback shortage.

Sanders has taken to X to tweet “Thank God” after every team loss this year.

Why should he give thanks every week for the Raiders’ downfall? Well, the more the team loses, the better their chances of landing one of the top picks in the draft. That would put the Raiders in a position to add Sanders if they wanted.

He didn’t tweet the same message after either of the team’s two wins.

It’s one of the few connections between the talented 22-year-old and the Raiders.

Shedeur’s father, former NFL star and current Colorado coach Deion Sanders, said in July that it would be “nice” if Shedeur ended up in Las Vegas. Deion Sanders also expressed his appreciation for Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, team president Sandra Douglass Morgan and the entire organization.

“I love what (Pierce) has to offer,” Deion Sanders said during Big 12 Media Days in Las Vegas. “I don’t want him to lose to the point where he can get Shedeur. Let’s get this straight. I don’t want that to happen, I really don’t, but I wouldn’t mind if it somehow happened with (Shedeur) being here.”

Since then, Shedeur Sanders has visited the city.

He was spotted courtside during the Las Vegas Aces’ 95-81 victory over the New York Liberty in the second round of the WNBA playoffs on October 4. That gave him a chance to chat with Raiders owner Mark Davis, who also owns the Aces.

The links don’t stop there. Shedeur Sanders has been mentored over the years by NFL legend Tom Brady, who is now part of the Raiders and Aces ownership groups. Sanders even has a name, image and likeness deal with Brady’s personal wellness and performance company, TB12.

It almost seems as if quarterback and team were made for each other.

The Raiders’ need for a franchise passer is as great as ever. Poor quarterback play is one of the main reasons for the team’s 2-7 start.

Addressing this position will be a top priority for the Raiders this offseason. Sanders is one of several interesting passers the team could add in the draft. Here are five college quarterbacks the Raiders could keep an eye on:

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (6-foot-2, 215 pounds)

Sanders is widely considered the best pure pocket passer in the draft, but he can also use his legs to make plays. This means that he could disappear from the field in the first lap.

Sanders is a mature, confident candidate. Its processing ability and accuracy are both outstanding. In his first eight games this season, he completed 73.3 percent of his passes with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Sanders needs to work on some things. He can sometimes hang on to the ball too long and take unnecessary sacks. His confidence in his own abilities can also cause him to sometimes look for a home run game rather than a safer option.

Cam Ward, Miami (Florida) (6-foot-2, 223 pounds)

Ward was considered a second-round pick this year in 2023 after a breakout season at Washington State.

A transfer to Miami strengthened his stock. He is now being considered as the first overall pick.

Ward, like Sanders, excels at working in the pocket. He can go through his reads and deliver accurate passes that give his receivers a chance to gain yards after the catch. There is no throw that the 22-year-old cannot make. He has enough athletic ability to be able to extend plays.

Ward still has some fine-tuning to do, particularly when it comes to reading the coverage. But he has shown the ability to adapt to different systems. That bodes well for his ability to adjust to the NFL.

Carson Beck, Georgia (6-foot-1, 220 pounds)

The 22-year-old Beck didn’t have the breakout season many predicted for him. He may be more of a game manager in the NFL than a quarterback capable of leading a team.

That doesn’t mean it should be overlooked.

Beck has a good feel for the position and is fundamentally solid. Sometimes he is guilty of doing too much, which can sometimes get him into trouble. He has thrown three interceptions in three different games this season.

The Bulldogs are talented enough to overcome Beck’s mistakes against most opponents. It will be different in the NFL, where the difference between victory and defeat is often razor-thin.

Beck has all the tools to become a starting quarterback at the next level. The question is just a question of advantage. Can he be Kirk Cousins? Or will his career be more like Kenny Pickett’s?

Jalen Milroe, Alabama (6-foot-1, 225 pounds)

There’s so much to like about Milroe. He has a stunning combination of athletic ability and arm strength.

But it also brings with it a lot of worries.

The 21-year-old Milroe is prone to making big mistakes. His accuracy comes and goes. Sometimes he tries to be too perfect instead of playing with freedom.

Maybe these things can be ironed out in time. Milroe could benefit from more experience at Alabama, but the call to the NFL might be too hard to resist given how many teams need quarterbacks.

Milroe’s skills are special. Whoever ends up with him just has to be patient.

Quinn Ewers, Texas (6-foot-1, 210 pounds)

Ewers is a talented passer with a clean and easy throwing motion. This occasionally leads to brilliant moments. There were even rumors that he would be the first quarterback not to come off the field at the start of the season.

But Ewers’ performance this year raises questions about whether he will even be a first-round pick. He failed in a big game against Georgia on October 19, completing 25 of his 43 passes for 211 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a 30-15 loss. The Longhorns didn’t score a point in the first half.

The 21-year-old Ewers also has an injury history. He was sidelined for two games this year with an abdominal strain.

The best option for him would be to go to an NFL team with an experienced quarterback. Ewers could benefit from a year or two of learning and development.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at [email protected]. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.