For a long time the Las Vegas Raiders have been linked in the NFL Draft to Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders, son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. But with the team having traded for Geno Smith, and subsequently signing him to a contract extension, the idea of drafting a QB with the sixth overall pick has lost some steam.
But Sanders remains one of the top QB prospects in the draft and while the Raiders do have Smith under contract through 2027, it doesn’t mean the team can’t potentially develop a young QB behind him as he will turn 35 during the 2025 season.
At the very least the Raiders are going to do their due diligence on all potential prospects and, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, are set to host Sanders in Las Vegas on Monday:
In addition to the group there now, the Raiders also have a 30 visit slated for Monday with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, sources say. So with Geno Smith locked up through ’27—and Sanders, Ewers, Howard and Dart all visiting—Vegas is kicking tires on developing a QB behind him. https://t.co/VsVB4MPhPx
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 9, 2025
As Breer noted, it sounds as if the Raiders are at least exploring the possibility of developing a talented young QB behind Smith which makes a lot of sense. Sanders has been exceptional over the past two seasons with Colorado and had his best collegiate season as a senior, completing 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions.
The question remains whether the Raiders would use their first-round pick on a quarterback, which they would need to do if they wanted to draft Sanders. Nothing is ever for certain in the NFL Draft, and while Sanders could potentially drop, he certainly wouldn’t fall out of the first round which means the Raiders would either need to take him with the sixth pick, or trade back into the first-round to draft him later.
With so many other holes on the roster, it would seem like the best move for the Raiders is to draft at another position and grab a quarterback later in the draft such as Quinn Ewers, Jaxson Dart or Will Howard, all of whom they have had visit the team as well. But if they simply have to have Sanders, then the team will do what they must to bring him in.
Raiders agree to two-year contract extension with QB Geno Smith
The reason it would be so surprising if the Raiders were to draft Sanders or another quarterback with a high draft-pick is because the team has committed to Geno Smith in a big way.
The Raiders and Smith came to an agreement on a two-year contract extension worth as much as $88.5 million with $66.5 million guaranteed.
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