Shedeur Sanders’ Raiders Visit: A Curious Move Amid Saints’ Draft Buzz
The report that Shedeur Sanders, Colorado’s quarterback, is visiting the Las Vegas Raiders this week has sparked intrigue, especially as the New Orleans Saints, armed with the No. 9 pick, are rumored to be plotting a trade-up in the 2025 NFL Draft to secure a quarterback following news of Derek Carr’s potentially season-ending shoulder injury. With the Raiders holding the No. 6 pick, their recent trade for Geno Smith, and Chip Kelly’s offensive scheme under Pete Carroll, Sanders’ visit raises questions. Does he fit Kelly’s system? Is he a culture match for Vegas? And, with the Saints’ urgency escalating, are the Raiders preempting a rival’s move or merely doing due diligence? As a football observer, I believe the Raiders evaluating Sanders is the right move, but drafting him at No. 6 seems risky with their roster needs.
The Saints’ quarterback crisis, reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on April 11, 2025, has shifted the draft landscape. Carr, 34, is weighing surgery for a shoulder injury that could sideline him for all of 2025, leaving New Orleans with unproven options in Spencer Rattler (0-6 as a starter in 2024) and Jake Haener. This has fueled speculation, per The Athletic, that the Saints may trade up from No. 9 to secure a top quarterback like Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward, potentially targeting picks ahead of the Raiders. Vegas, aware of this, might be assessing Sanders to either draft him or leverage their slot in trade talks. However, using No. 6 on a quarterback when Smith, signed to a two-year, $75 million extension, anchors the position feels like a luxury. The Raiders’ 4-13 record in 2024 exposed needs at running back (Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is a mock draft favorite), offensive line, and secondary. A trade-back to accumulate picks could better serve a roster craving immediate impact.
Chip Kelly’s scheme adds another layer. Known for tempo and misdirection from Oregon to UCLA, Kelly’s NFL offenses, like his Eagles tenure, favor quarterbacks with quick processing and dual-threat ability. Sanders’ 2024 Colorado stats, 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, shine in a spread system built for his pocket-passing strengths, leaning on stars like Travis Hunter. While his anticipation and accuracy align with Kelly’s timing-based concepts, Sanders’ limited mobility (not a Vick or Mariota) isn’t a natural fit for a scheme that thrives on quarterback versatility. Smith’s pocket presence suits Kelly’s current setup, suggesting Sanders might need time to adapt, potentially clashing with the Raiders’ win-now push under Carroll and part-owner Tom Brady.
Culture fit is trickier. The Raiders, rebuilding their identity, demand discipline. Sanders’ swagger, called confidence by supporters, arrogance by detractors like anonymous Combine scouts, could test Carroll’s old-school temper. His NIL-fueled persona and media spotlight, amplified by father Deion Sanders, might thrive in Vegas’ glitz, and Brady’s reported connection could ease tensions. Still, Sanders must prove he’s all-in, not just a headline. His leadership at Jackson State and Colorado shows he can rally teammates, but any sense of entitlement risks alienating a locker room.
The Saints’ desperation complicates Vegas’ predicament. Posts on X suggest New Orleans views Sanders as a pro-ready passer who could start immediately under new coach Kellen Moore. Trading up—possibly with the Jets at No. 7 or Patriots at No. 4—could see the Saints snatch Sanders before the Raiders pick. Vegas’ Smith acquisition, costing a third-rounder, signals stability for 2025-2026, making Sanders at No. 6 a questionable use of capital when Jeanty or a lineman could transform the offense now. If the Raiders love Sanders, trading down to recoup assets while still grabbing him makes more sense than standing pat.
Ultimately, Sanders’ visit feels like a hedge against the Saints’ aggression. His arm talent tempts, but Kelly’s scheme and Vegas’ roster holes tilt toward patience. Let Smith steer 2025, draft a day-one starter elsewhere, and monitor the Saints’ move. If they jump, Sanders may land in New Orleans, not Vegas.