The Las Vegas Raiders made a bold move this offseason by hiring 73-year-old Pete Carroll as their new head coach. With Tom Brady as part of their ownership group, a sense of urgency and ambition has been added to the organization’s search for success.
With both a Super Bowl-winning coach and the most successful player in NFL history now involved, the Raiders are looking to aggressively reshape their future — and that starts with the quarterback position.
As it stands, the Raiders are projected to move up in the 2025 NFL Draft to secure their quarterback of the future, and the latest 7-round mock draft from PFSN’s Jacob Infante predicts they’ll do just that, setting their sights on Shedeur Sanders.
Raiders Projected to Move Up for Shedeur Sanders
In PFSN’s latest mock draft, the Raiders are predicted to trade up for the Tennessee Titans’ first overall pick to select Sanders. The Colorado quarterback has been one of the most talked-about players in the lead-up to the draft.
“The marriage of Shedeur Sanders and the Las Vegas Raiders feels too good to be true. With Las Vegas in desperate need of an answer at quarterback, they move up a few spots to find their quarterback of the future.
“Sanders is an accurate passer who stays tough in the pocket and delivers his throws with a sense of touch down the field. Having a head coach like Pete Carroll and a superstar target like Brock Bowers would help the Colorado star mask his shortcomings and emphasize his strengths.”
Sanders threw for 4,134 yards, 41 touchdowns (37 passing, four rushing), and 10 interceptions in 2024, leading Colorado to a successful 9-4 season.
His composure in the pocket and ability to deliver accurate throws downfield make him an ideal candidate for the Raiders’ offense. With head coach Pete Carroll’s reputation for developing quarterbacks and surrounding them with talent, Sanders could thrive in Las Vegas.
Who Is Sanders’ Main Competition in the 2025 NFL Draft?
While Sanders is emerging as a likely target for the Raiders, he’s not without competition.
Cam Ward, the quarterback out of Miami, is also in the mix and is currently projected to go third overall to the New York Giants.
Infante writes, “The Raiders jump ahead of the New York Giants to secure their own top quarterback in this mock draft simulation, but with New York picking at No. 3, they’ll still be in a good position to select their quarterback of the future.
“With his effortless arm strength and his improvisational skills, Cam Ward stakes a strong claim to being the top quarterback in this year’s class. How he compares to prospects at his position from the 2024 NFL Draft is another discussion, but you have to shoot as high as you can at the quarterback position. Ward has arguably the highest ceiling of the quarterbacks in the 2025 class.”
Ward’s dynamic playmaking ability and strong arm have earned him a spot as one of the top quarterbacks in the class, but it seems more likely the Raiders will go for Sanders, who has a well-rounded skill set and leadership qualities that Carroll could develop into something special.
Adding fuel to the fire, Sanders recently gave a blunt six-word pitch to the Tennessee Titans front office (or anyone else who wants to draft him), arguing why he should go No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
During an interview with Josina Anderson, Sanders didn’t hesitate when asked why he should be the No. 1 pick over Hunter. His response was direct and confident: “Why I should go No. 1?” Sanders asked before giving his six-word pitch: “Do you want your franchise changed?”