Raiders add star quarterback prospect in latest ESPN 2025 mock draft

It’s officially the dead point of the summer, which means there won’t be a ton of NFL news for the next several weeks. So, of course, that means it’s time to look ahead to next year’s draft.

In a recent mock draft written by Matt Miller of ESPN, he had the Raiders trading up to No. 2 to select Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders. While the 2025 quarterback class isn’t strong, Sanders is widely believed to be in the conversation for the first overall selection.

Here is what Miller had to say about Sanders and the possibility of the Raiders drafting a franchise quarterback early in the 2025 NFL Draft:

The Raiders went 8-9 last season, and the late-season 5-4 surge under coach Antonio Pierce didn’t have much to do with the quarterback play. The team had 20 passing touchdowns to 18 interceptions, as rookie Aidan O’Connell replaced Jimmy Garoppolo for 11 games.

O’Connell may prove his status in Year 2, but the early read on Las Vegas is that it needs a quarterback. Sanders is a legitimate Heisman contender if Colorado can string together some wins. His accuracy, toughness and poise would make him a rookie starter for the Raiders and give the offense some much-needed swagger. He threw 27 touchdown passes to three interceptions for the Buffaloes last year.

Sanders is a pocket passer who rarely uses his legs to run. He is incredibly accurate and stands tall in the pocket. However, he needs to do a better job of avoiding sacks this season and could show off his athleticism more.

If Sanders can improve on his fantastic sophomore season, there is no reason to believe that he couldn’t be one of the top picks in next year’s draft. And with the Raiders looking for a franchise quarterback, Sanders will certainly be on the short list of names they will consider.