Draft expert Mel Kiper believes the elder Sanders could replicate Archie and Eli Manning’s refusal to play for the then-San Diego Chargers. The elder Manning refused to let his son play for organizations with poor quarterback history.
“It would be Las Vegas,” Kiper said when asked if there is a team he believes the Hall of Fame quarterback may steer his son towards.
Kiper also acknowledged the similarities between newly-added Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. “Brady and him have that thing going. He kind of has that Brady feel where he’s pocket. He’s precise,” Kiper said.
“Brady was super accurate, tough, and excellent in the pocket during his playing career — which sounds a lot like the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sanders,” Kiper said. “The senior’s 73.3% completion rate is fourth in the country, and his 82.3 QBR from inside the pocket is 15th.”
Two to three teams in front of the Raiders in the draft order could technically be considered organizations unfavorable to quarterbacks. The Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers have been terrible with quarterbacks, historically. So have the New Orleans Saints outside Drew Brees’ nearly two-decade run. That would leave the Raiders as the only logical choice for the Sanders family to force their way to.
