For much of the past year, the Las Vegas Raiders have been linked with University of Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The team had an obvious need at quarterback, and Sanders continued to shine with a second outstanding season for the Buffaloes.
However, the Raiders surprised many when they traded a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Geno Smith. With Pete Carroll taking over as head coach, adding Smith gives the Raiders a reliable player under center who already knows Carroll’s offensive system and should be able to step in and immediately improve this team. It also would seem to indicate that the Raiders will target another position with their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But Sanders recently sparked the rumor mill with an interesting post on Instagram. The Colorado quarterback posted a picture of himself with Smith, calling the Raiders quarterback “legendary” via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Interesting IG post from Shedeur Sanders
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) March 16, 2025
Just because the Raiders traded for Smith doesn’t necessarily rule them out from taking a quarterback with their first-round pick which is sixth overall. Smith is 35 years old and likely not the long-term answer at the position so if Sanders is available and the franchise feels he is the best option available, they could still choose to bring him in, much like the Atlanta Falcons did last offseason when they signed Kirk Cousins and then drafted Michael Penix Jr.
Whether that would be wise for the Raiders to do is unclear. Though Smith is 35, he does not have the the number of miles on him that most quarterbacks that age would. He was primarily a backup between 2015 and 2021, making just five starts and 15 total appearances during that time. The question really is whether the Raiders see Sanders as a franchise quarterback.
If they do and he is there for the taking, they very well could bring him i. It looks as if Sanders would like to be in Las Vegas. But the Raiders will have to think long and hard about what is the best move for this franchise.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has supporters within Raiders organization
If the Raiders look elsewhere in the 2025 NFL Draft, one position could be running back as they ranked dead last in rushing a season ago. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is coming off one of the best seasons by a back in college football history and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up, and apparently has some fans inside the Raiders.
A recent report noted that there is a contingent of Ashton Jeanty supporters within the Raiders organization. Last year Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns and would undoubtedly give the Raiders another offensive weapon alongside tight end Brock Bowers.
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