The Las Vegas Raiders have been connected heavily in NFL rumors this offseason to a variety of quarterback options, both in the 2025 NFL Draft along with free agency. At the start of the NFL Scouting Combine, there’s more buzz coming out regarding the team’s quarterback plans.
Las Vegas brought in a new regime, with head coach Pete Carroll hired to provide credibility and stability to a franchise that desperately needed it. Raiders general manager John SPytek will be the architect for the team’s long-term vision, building a roster that can make this team a perennial contender.
Holding the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Las Vegas has a few options. It could add a veteran quarterback, such as Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson, or focus its efforts on landing one of the top quarterback prospects.
According to Sportskeeda‘s Tony Pauline, the ‘overall belief’ around the league is that the Raiders will be among the clubs actively attempting to trade up with the Tennessee Titans for the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. If Las Vegas can land the No. 1 selection, it would reportedly be to select quarterback Cam Ward.
Interestingly, per Pauline, the Raiders would have a fallback plan if they can’t trade up with Tennessee. There’s also a belief within the NFL that if Las Vegas stays put at No. 6 overall, it could land Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
There have already been reports that Raiders’ co-owner Tom Brady is high on Sanders, but Ward is widely viewed as the better quarterback prospect. The question for the franchise might be if the difference is worth paying whatever cost Tennessee sets for the top pick.
One other alternative, that has been floated around the league, would see the Raiders sign someone like Rodgers or Sam Darnold and then use the No. 6 pick on running back Ashton Jeanty. Pairing Jeanty with Brock Bowers would immediately give a veteran quarterback a strong supporting cast to work with and it would create a great environment for the team’s quarterback of the future to step into next year.
