It’s hardly October, but mock draft season is already up and running for the Las Vegas Raiders. Is Shedeur Sanders the franchise quarterback they need?
The quarterback position for the Silver and Black finds itself in an odd state. By now, it’s all hyperbole; they couldn’t draft an organization-altering signal caller such as Jayden Daniels. So, they ran with what they had last season in Aidan O’Connell and then added Gardner Minshew. Be that as it may, the Raiders stand at 2-2 with the rest of the AFC West, save for the Kansas City Chiefs.
So, if this continues, will the Raiders be out of contention again next year when it comes to the NFL draft, particularly for a quarterback?
Shedeur Sanders on his way to the Raiders, courtesy of PFF…
Trevor Sikkema has already fired up his mock draft at Pro Football Focus this week. The Raiders surprisingly aren’t in the top five or even 10. We can hear the collective groan from Raider Nation (at least the ones who are embracing a tank job). Still, not all is lost. Even at No. 21, Sikkema believes Las Vegas and general manager Tom Telesco can find their guy.
“There’s a strong chance the Raiders will look to make a splash at quarterback after missing out in the last draft class. Sanders seems like a potential fit for them, regardless of where they’re drafting. His poise and performance under pressure at Colorado instill confidence that he could step in and start immediately. His 90.6 passing grade is currently the third-highest in the FBS.”
Many Raiders fans perceive inherent issues with the young Sanders. For example, many see him as a diva, a player with a troubling attitude, and some point to his father as being responsible. Of course, his father is Deion Sanders, a football legend. Even so, the natural talent and athletic gifts could be exactly what jumpstart the Raiders next year.
A team that could be without Davante Adams on offense moving forward will need as much explosiveness as possible; maybe Sanders can help with this.
*Top Photo: AP/Ross D. Franklin
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