There were a ton of people, including myself, who thought the Las Vegas Raiders would eventually take Shedeur Sanders before the fifth round. But, to me, after passing on him the amount of times they did, it feels like they were never going to take him or even had any interest.
The league views Sanders as a career backup, as sad as that is to say. Now, that doesn't mean that's what he will be -- he will have the opportunity to prove everyone wrong, and we have seen him play before, so it's possible he could prove everyone wrong. But instead, the Raiders ended up going with Cam Miller in the sixth round.
Some fans didn't like the move and certainly didn't expect it. But, if you ask me, the Raiders may see Miller as more than just a career backup.
Who is Raiders rookie quarterback Cam Miller?
Cam Miller, a three-star recruit out of high school, picked North Dakota State over other FCS schools. At NDSU from 2020 to 2024, Miller started 56 games, going 45-11, and won FCS national championships in 2021 and 2024. In the 2024 title game, he was named MVP, completing 19 of 22 passes and scoring four total touchdowns against Montana State and his now teammate Tommy Mellott.
His 2024 season included 3,251 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, four interceptions, 631 rushing yards, and 12 rushing scores. He finished his career with 9,721 passing yards, 81 passing touchdowns, 2,277 rushing yards, and 48 rushing touchdowns, setting NDSU records for total offense (11,998 yards) and completion percentage (.694). He was named the 2024 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and a First-Team FCS All-American.
Miller is known for his leadership, accuracy, and dual-threat ability but has average arm strength and a smaller frame (6’1”, 212 pounds). His pro-style experience at NDSU suits the NFL, though he’ll need time to adjust.
Cam Miller could be Geno Smith's successor
Yes, he was a sixth-round pick, but it feels like the Raiders took the FCS quarterback purely off of the potential he has as a pure passer. And believe me, the potential is there. When you watch the film and the tape, he's accurate, he makes precise throws in tight windows, he can throw on the run, and he can use his legs. He's a quarterback, point blank.
If the Raiders wanted a guy who was just going to be the backup behind Smith, they wouldn't have taken Miller because they already have O'Connell. My thought is that, when Smith's contract is up in a few years, Miller will be ready to be the successor.
With the Raiders, he can compete for a backup role behind Geno Smith, but it won't be easy, as O'Connell has proved a few different times that he can be a decent QB in the NFL with flashes of greatness, just no consistency. His toughness and winning history make him a solid candidate for a long-term NFL backup.
But Miller's intangibles and even tangibles on the field show me that he can be a starter if the development goes right. In the AFC West, when you have QBs like Patrick Mahomes on the Kansas City Chiefs and what the Los Angeles Chargers have in Justin Herbert, you have to stay ready with a good QB room.
