The Las Vegas Raiders urgently need a new quarterback, and Shedeur Sanders could be the answer.
While veteran Geno Smith has the starting position locked down after signing a two-year, $75 million contract extension upon arriving from the Seattle Seahawks, his backup has suffered a serious injury.
Aidan O’Connell, who is entering his third year in the NFL, fractured his right wrist during a preseason game on Saturday night and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
“He’s hurt and it’s going to be a while,” Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said after the 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
“That’s a big blow for us.”
Rookie Cam Miller, who has been fighting for a roster spot, finished the game from the second quarter on, after O’Connell’s exit.
He completed 12-of-24 passing attempts for 102 yards, but a good chunk of those numbers came during the final drive when the game was already lost.
It’s unlikely Las Vegas will feel comfortable with Miller filling the backup role in O’Connell’s absence and the franchise — partially owned by legendary QB Tom Brady — are looking for alternatives before the season begins.
Fans urge Brady to make Sanders contact
One of the names being floated is Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur, son of NFL legend Deion Sanders, with many fans suggesting he is a good fit for the Raiders.
Some have even appealed to Brady to make the move happen.
“The Raiders should make a trade for Shedeur Sanders. Geno Smith would be the perfect mentor for Shedeur… not to mention Tom Brady’s presence as a minority owner,” one person wrote.
“Shedeur Sanders would be safer and more productive in Vegas than he would be in Cleveland,” another said, tagging Brady’s X account.
“I assumed the Raiders would draft Shedeur… maybe now is the time,” a third wrote, while a fourth called a potential move ‘perfect’.
“Shedeur Sanders isn’t ‘experienced’ but the Raiders would be wise to trade for him and have him learn the ropes under Geno Smith. Sanders already has a relationship with Tom Brady,” a fifth fan concluded.
Why is a Raiders move for Sanders unlikely?
While fans are urging Brady to make the call, it would make little sense to bring in Sanders, and Las Vegas head coach Carroll has also hinted about the importance of bringing in an ‘experienced’ QB to play behind Smith.
“We’re looking everywhere to see the best guy that fits us,” he said.
“So if you don’t mind, I’m not gonna lay out exactly what we’re looking for here, I don’t want to show our hand.
“But I want somebody who’s played, that’s what’s important. A guy that’s had game experience is really huge to me.”
“We have Cam, and Cam hasn’t played in the league much. So we’re looking for an experienced player who can help us.”
Like Miller, Sanders is still a rookie with no real NFL experience, even if he was taken off the draft board by the Browns 71 picks before the Raiders took their signal caller.
Shedeur is also locked in a battle of his own with two other QBs, Kenny Pickett and Dillon Gabriel, to be Joe Flacco’s backup in Ohio.
While there is plenty of noise surrounding the 23-year-old, with some fans rating him far higher than a fifth-round pick, Sanders did struggle in his final preseason outing.
Against the Los Angeles Rams, he completed three of six passes for just 14 yards, and was sacked five times.
Tyler Huntley, who has since been cut by the Browns, led Cleveland’s final drive — which ended with a game-winning field goal — instead of the rookie.
Raiders legend calls out Cleveland’s Sanders decision
Head coach Kevin Stefanski’s decision to give that drive to Huntley instead of Sanders was criticized by some, including former Raiders QB Derek Carr.
“I need to understand why we don’t get to see Shedeur Sanders run this 2 minute drill?“ he wrote on X.
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“Wouldn’t you want to see your young QB operate in this situation? Get him more reps for the future?
“I didn’t see the whole game so maybe he already showed enough? Help me understand this…”
After that decision, the narrative has suggested that Stefanski and the Browns are ‘sabotaging’ Sanders ahead of the 2025 season — but that is a claim the head coach himself has denied.
Still, there are plenty of fans who think Shedeur could be a better fit with a different team, and while it looks a long shot, the injury-hit Raiders could offer him a way out.
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