An NFL analyst believes the Las Vegas Raiders are poised to snub Shedeur Sanders in the 2025 NFL Draft by opting for Jalen Milroe to be their future quarterback, expecting the youngster to take over from Geno Smith in the years to come.
The Raiders have struggled to lock down their QB spot for quite some time now, struggling between Gardner Minshew, Aiden O’Connell and others as they lack their long-term replacement for Derek Carr.
Now they’ve landed Smith from the Seattle Seahawks and prepare to become more competitive in the AFC West against the Kansas City Chiefs, but at 34 years of age, they already have to think about who comes after him too.
Which is where their role in the 2025 NFL Draft begins. Despite being linked with Sanders for months, it seems as though they could actually opt for Milroe, according to Chad Retuer.
Raiders ex-GM backs Milroe
The Alabama Crimson Tide graduate produced 2844 passing yards from 319 attempts (64.3%) in the 2024 NCAA season and added 16 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 726 yards and scoring 20 more.
That makes him a very effective double-threat similar to the likes of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts and a promising talent for the future, possessing weapons Sanders lacks.
A dynamic, modern quarterback, those qualities could be what attracts Tom Brady to the 22-year-old as the seven-time Super Bowl champion works in a key role when it comes to football operations for the Raiders.
He’s not the only one who sees potential for Milroe at the Raiders either, as their General Manager from 2019-2021, Mike Mayock, also thinks he has the potential to be useful in the future.
“I think he’s a two to three year project,” Mayock said to The Rich Eisen Show. “But if somebody rubs this piece of coal, I think he could turn into a diamond.
“There are massive inconsistencies that need to be worked on, and that’s why he has to go to a team where they recognize it…They got to give him real opportunities to improve.”
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