Popular NFL commentators Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal believe Deion Sanders and his son, Shedeur, are the perfect fit for the Las Vegas Raiders. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the two men highlighted their belief that head coach Antonio Pierce would be fired at the end of the Raiders’ disappointing campaign.
With the 2-9 record and the recent season-ending injury to quarterback Gardner Minshew, both men outlined how there is a strong chance the Raiders would be picking inside the top three in the 2025 NFL Draft.
What Did Simmons and Sal Say About the Raiders’ Season and the Sanders Scenario?
In the aforementioned video release, Simmons and Sal shared numerous sentiments regarding the current and future state of the organization.
“They’re going to need a coach. They need a quarterback”, and “he [owner Mark Davis] doesn’t care who gets the spotlight” were just some of the statements made on the matter.
The latter remark was further clarified by outlining how a relationship between Sanders and current Dallas Cowboys GM/owner Jerry Jones may be quite difficult.
Shedeur and Deion Sanders to Vegas? 👀
Bill breaks down why he thinks the QB and coach could both end up with the Raiders next season.@BillSimmons @TheCousinSal pic.twitter.com/UdekVcsQqv
— The Ringer (@ringer) November 25, 2024
What Could Deion and Shedeur Bring to the Struggling Raiders Franchise?
Should the Raiders hire Coach Prime as their next head coach and draft Shedeur early in next year’s draft, the franchise may finally have the stability it has been lacking in recent years.
Since arriving at the University of Colorado in 2022, Coach Prime has brought quick success and steadiness to the Buffaloes’ football program. In addition, Shedeur has thrown for an impressive 3,488 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions on the season.
Projected to be selected fifth overall by the Raiders in Pro Football Network’s recent 2025 NFL Mock Draft, Sanders is expected to be taken quite early and not be available to many teams later on.
For the Raiders, selecting Shedeur as their quarterback of the future makes a lot of sense. Since Derek Carr’s departure to New Orleans, the position has featured a carousel of mediocrity in need of a long-term solution. This season, the Raiders’ quarterback room consists of the previously mentioned Minshew, Desmond Ridder, and Aidan O’Connell.
Though serviceable NFL players, none have ever thrown for more than 21 passing touchdowns in a single season. As a result, the Raiders need someone who can change the fortunes of a struggling club that has not made the playoffs since 2021.
Though it is still too early to know for sure which team Shedeur will play for next season or whether Deion will make the jump to the NFL, it is clear that the Raiders are in the QB and head coach market, something that has many analysts linking the famous father-son duo to the struggling AFC franchise.