The Las Vegas Raiders have had a busy offseason. The team hired 77-year-old Pete Carroll as head coach, minority owner Tom Brady became a more public face of the franchise, and Geno Smith was signed to a two-year, $75 million contract as their starting quarterback. Chip Kelly is the offensive coordinator, Patrick Graham stays on to run the defense, and Carroll’s son, Brennan, is the offensive line coach.
Brady’s presence has also greatly influenced personnel decisions. He was instrumental in hiring General Manager John Spytek. The two have ties to their time together with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After taking running back Ashton Jeanty and wide receiver Jack Bech in the first and second rounds, the Raiders drafted trench players with four of their six remaining picks.
Ice Cube Opens Up on His Theory on Why the Raiders Didn’t Draft Shedeur Sanders
If some Raiders fans had their way, Shedeur Sanders would be a Las Vegas Raider. That includes Raiders superfan, Ice Cube, who went on “The Skip Bayless Show” to air his theory on why the Raiders passed on Sanders, and ultimately why Sanders fell so far.
“It did bother me. I wanted him, but I understand,” Ice Cube said. “I can see from a coach’s point of view why not to take him, because you take him, you don’t have a good season or two, Deion’s getting your job.”
“You’d be drafting your replacement,” Ice Cube reasoned. “I think that might have been the biggest reason why he slipped. It wasn’t because of how he plays on the field.”
Speculation about Sanders’ draft slide has been rampant. Bayless even claimed that Brady prevented the Raiders from drafting Sanders, which Brady has vehemently denied. Looking over the Raiders’ draft, it’s not hard to argue that they could have taken a flyer on Sanders.
However, they drafted two offensive weapons that could contribute immediately and trench players they could develop for the long haul.
There’s also the possibility they did not want the baggage Sanders was perceived to be carrying. Since arriving in Cleveland, he’s been an exemplary player and has said and done all the right things.
Moreover, drafting Sanders could have had a Kirk Cousins/Michael Penix vibe that the Raiders may have wanted to avoid. A quarterback controversy is something to avoid for a franchise trying to recalibrate its image, culture, and chemistry.
If nothing else, the Raiders are starting their new way by playing it safe and sticking to drafting foundational pieces.
