Sitting on a 2-7 record, some Las Vegas Raiders fans are already looking towards the future.
One of the main sticking points of general manager Tom Telesco’s first year in Las Vegas has been the quarterback situation. While Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are doing their best, the Raiders are simply lacking a franchise quarterback. Sharing a division with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix makes the need all the more apparent.
The good news for Telesco and the Raiders is that the 2025 Draft provides some options to fill the void at the game’s most important position. While the class has been somewhat inconsistent on a week-to-week basis, there are some prospects who have stood out all season long. The season is just the start of the pre-draft process, but the Raiders should leave no stone unturned to find their next quarterback.
Here are five options who could be donning the silver and black next season:
Cam Ward, Miami Hurricanes
The biggest riser in the draft class so far, Ward has been nothing short of impressive this season.
What will interest NFL teams with Ward is how he has succeeded at every level. A former zero-star prospect, Ward began his career with FCS program Incarnate Word, throwing for 6,908 yards and 71 touchdowns in his two seasons. He would transfer to Washington State in 2022 and was once again dominant in his two years there, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns each season. His decision to transfer to Miami, however, has given him a larger stage to showcase his talents to the football world. He seems also to be a lock to win the Heisman Trophy this year. In 10 games for the Hurricanes, Ward has thrown for 3,494 yards and 32 touchdowns. There is no denying Ward’s arm talent at this point, and he makes difficult throws look easy with his arm strength and playmaking ability. While he still needs to learn not to do it all on offense himself, Ward is a dynamic talent who always keeps his teams in the game.
Ward is trending to be a top pick in 2025, if not first overall. He is on the board for the Raiders to change their fortunes.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
The option most linked to the Raiders so far, Sanders brings a swagger that the organization desperately needs once again.
There is no better pocket passer in this draft class than Sanders. His accuracy has been on display each season, never completing less than 65% of his passes in any season. Unlike many other prospects at the position, he does not make himself strictly reliant on the deep pass to do damage, instead picking opposing defenses apart by establishing a rhythm and being methodical with his decisions. While he has the athleticism to extend plays with his legs, he does not always use it to his advantage and takes more hits than scouts would like. His scouting report reads similarly to that of Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in that regard, however, some teams have shown the ability to make quarterbacks like Sanders work at the NFL level by further developing his ability to read plays Sanders can take his game to a higher echelon.
Sanders has burst onto the college football scene, and the Raiders have to be taking notice.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
The last of the top tier of options at the position, Milroe is a bit of a different case than Ward or Sanders.
While Milroe has had a fair share of down games (his performances against Vanderbilt and Tennessee left something to be desired), the positives continue to show themselves throughout the season. Milroe is far and away the most explosive athlete at the position this year, making plays with his legs as well as his arm. Possessing prototypical size (six-foot two, 225 pounds), speed and arm strength, Milroe has the physical gifts that NFL scouts salivate over. He can stand in the pocket and hit open receivers for deep strikes, while also forcing opposing defenses to take his ability to scramble into account. He does rely on his athleticism a little too much, usually waiting too long for a receiver to get open or bailing out of clean pockets before progressing through his reads. He is not going to be immediately ready like the two above him, but his ceiling is just as high, if not higher.
The Raiders would ultimately be taking a chance with Milroe, but the potential rewards are too good to pass up if he is available.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Past the three top options, the next tier of prospects comes with some concerns about how their games will translate to the NFL level. Dart is among one of the options with the most upside.
With three years of play in the talent-heavy SEC under his belt, Dart has shown improvement each season. This season, he is completing 71.7% of his passes and looks set to eclipse his season-high 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns from last year. Dart has the physical tools needed to succeed at the NFL level, possessing a live arm that allows him to hit every part of the field while also extending plays on the ground. The major questions with Dart come not necessarily from him, but rather with Ole Miss. The Rebels boast a great deal of receiving talent, and head coach Lane Kiffin’s offensive scheme insulates Dart quite a bit. Those will not be available for him in the NFL, so Dart will need to get up to speed in a pro-style offense.
The questions with Dart loom larger than some of the elite prospects listed here, but the potential is there for him to make an impact in the NFL. If the Raiders miss out on a high pick, Dart is an excellent Plan B.
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
Why not tread off the beaten path for a bit?
Rourke has been a driving force for Indiana’s surprise 10-0 season, showing immediate comfort under first-year coach Curt Cignetti’s offense. After four seasons of strong play with Ohio in the MAC, Rourke rolled the dice by transferring to the Big Ten. The move has paid off dramatically, as Rourke is completing a career-best 71.8% of his passes while also throwing for 2,410 yards and 21 touchdowns. While Rourke does not possess the pure arm strength some scouts prefer, he makes up for it with his size (six-foot-five, 223 pounds), accuracy, and willingness to stand up to pressure. It is a case of a quarterback being greater than the sum of his parts, and Rourke’s limitations have not impeded Indiana in any way.
Some teams will see Rourke as an NFL backup and potential spot starter, while others could see more if Rourke and Indiana make the playoffs and have success. The Raiders would be wise to keep tabs on him.
