BREAKING NEWS: Raiders favorites to sign 7-time award-winning quarterback after huge trade up

The Las Vegas Raiders appear to be headed in the right direction. This offseason, they brought in John Spytek as their new general manager, hired Pete Carroll as head coach, and successfully recruited Chip Kelly from Ohio State to lead the offense.

Now, the team’s focus shifts to finding a franchise quarterback, and the 2025 NFL Draft could have the right player for them. Currently, the Raiders hold the No. 6 overall pick.

Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are regarded as the top quarterbacks in this draft, and there’s a good chance one of them could fall to the Raiders without them needing to trade up.

However, the team might not want to risk losing out on their desired quarterback and could opt to trade up. Matt Johnson of Sportsnaut recently posted a mock draft where the Raiders traded up to the second pick with the Cleveland Browns to select Sanders.

In this scenario, Johnson had the Raiders give up their 2025 first- and second-round picks, along with a 2026 second-round pick, in exchange for the second pick. This move would allow them to leapfrog the New York Giants, who also need a quarterback, to secure Sanders.

Johnson explained that with the quarterback class being relatively weaker, the cost to move up in the 2025 draft should be more reasonable for the Raiders. The Browns, who face salary cap issues and have a thin roster, would benefit from acquiring cheap talent through rookie-scale contracts. They also don’t feel the need to reach for a quarterback.

From the Raiders’ perspective, this move is about securing a promising future. Mark Davis is seeking a franchise quarterback, and while hiring Pete Carroll adds credibility in the short term, the Raiders currently lack a long-term plan at both quarterback and head coach. Sanders, who has a playing style reminiscent of Geno Smith, is the kind of quarterback Carroll is known to excel with. The Raiders’ third-round pick from the Jets makes this trade more justifiable.

Sanders is a logical fit for Las Vegas. New minority owner Tom Brady has a personal connection with Sanders, having mentored him in high school. Additionally, Sanders is an elite talent who would energize the fanbase. Over two seasons at Colorado, he threw for 7,364 yards, 64 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, setting an FBS record for career completion percentage.

A highly accurate passer with strong athleticism, Sanders prefers to play as a pocket passer and methodically break down defenses. Despite playing behind a poor offensive line, he did an excellent job limiting turnovers.

While trading away a first-round pick and two second-round picks seems expensive, it’s a price the Raiders would be willing to pay for a franchise quarterback. The extra third-round pick from the Davante Adams trade makes the cost slightly more manageable.

If the Raiders have the opportunity to select Sanders, they should take it. Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew both struggled in 2024, and Minshew could be cut this offseason due to salary cap concerns.

Bringing in a franchise-caliber quarterback like Sanders is a necessity for the Raiders.