The Las Vegas Raiders significantly upgraded their quarterback position this offseason, trading for two-time Pro Bowler Geno Smith.
Smith resurrected his career under new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll while they were with the Seattle Seahawks, and now they’re teaming up once again to help lead the Silver and Black back to the playoffs.
The Raiders endured a disastrous quarterback carousel of Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, and Desmond Ridder in 2024, who threw just 19 touchdowns combined with 16 interceptions, leading Las Vegas to a 4-13 record.
With the Raiders now solidified at the quarterback position and reports indicating they’re looking to sign Smith to an extension, the question remains: will they still look to select a quarterback in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft?
What will Las Vegas Raiders do in 2025 NFL Draft?
The Raiders own the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and have several needs, including wide receiver, running back, cornerback, and linebacker.
CBS Sports NFL Draft writer Josh Edwards told Sportsnaut’s Scott Gulbransen he can’t see the Raiders trading up to take a quarterback but wouldn’t be surprised if they took Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders if he was still available at No. 6.
“If you trade away that future capital and you’re not able to build around that player within the next two years, then you’re essentially wasting the next two or three years of not only Geno Smith’s future, but your organization as well. It’s kind of like, what was the point of doing this if you were just kind of rebuilding anyway? So that’s kind of why I think Las Vegas is going to be inclined to stay where they are,” noted Edwarts.
“And if maybe Shedeur Sanders Jr. is there, that would probably be a situation that they would consider. But I have a hard time believing that they’re going to surrender a lot to invest in the future when it’s very clear that they’re kind of sending a message to win right now.”
Several mock drafts have the Raiders taking Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty or Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. However, if Sanders is still available, it might be hard for the Raiders to pass on a potential franchise quarterback with his talents.
