Raiders Draft Strategy: Avoid The Hype
The Las Vegas Raiders should steer clear of drafting Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward in the 2025 NFL Draft, and here’s why: Neither quarterback guarantees the franchise-altering impact the team needs. Sanders, despite his polish and pedigree, showed stagnation in 2024, with poor pocket awareness and a reliance on his father’s system that raises red flags about his adaptability. His off-field persona, tied to Deion Sanders’ circus, could also disrupt a locker room already fragile from years of instability.
Cam Ward, meanwhile, dazzles with raw talent and upside, but his recklessness with the ball and inconsistent decision-making scream “boom or bust.” Las Vegas has gambled on high-risk quarterbacks before, JaMarcus Russell, anyone? Ward’s upside isn’t worth the No. 1 pick when the roster has gaping holes beyond QB.
With the sixth pick looming, the Raiders should pivot. Trade down, stockpile assets, and address multiple needs like the offensive line, secondary, edge, while targeting a veteran like Justin Fields if available, or a later-round prospect like Jaxson Dart, Will Howard or Dillon Gabriel. This draft lacks elite QB depth, and forcing a pick on Sanders or Ward risks another decade of mediocrity. Mark Davis and Tom Brady should prioritize building a complete team over chasing hype.