Tom Brady has plenty on his plate, and could finding out exactly what his role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders be one of them? The NFL legend dropped a bombshell that’s left fans wondering how much influence he has within the team.
A football mind as sharp and experienced as Brady’s is a very valuable asset to the front office at the Allegiant Stadium, offering Mark Davis an insight into the sport that the 69-year-old lacks.
However, during an appearance on a podcast, Brady was asked about Shedeur Sanders‘ unexpected slide in the 2025 NFL Draft and is response left many stunned as he was cut out of discussions.
“It’s a good question, I wasn’t part of any evaluation process,” Brady said to Impaulsive, a statement that struck a nerve with fans, who wondered why the Raiders wouldn’t buy into the insight of the seven-time champion, regarded as the best quarterback ever.
Mike Florio noted that Brady was supposed to be instrumental in shaping the team’s quarterback strategy; making his exclusion from the draft process all the more confusing considering the Raiders passed on Shedeur seven times.
The contradiction is even more glaring given Brady’s recent influence in other team decisions. He reportedly had a hand in the hiring of Pete Carroll as head coach and supported the acquisition of veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
So how could the executives sideline Brady during one of the most pivotal quarterback evaluations of the year?
One theory suggests Brady may have distanced himself from the decision to maintain a respectful relationship with the Sanders family, after previously serving as the mentor to the Colorado Buffaloes star.
Brady sends advice to Sanders
Eventually, Sanders was selected in the fifth round by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick, joining a crowded quarterback room that includes Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Kenny Pickett.
However, the 46-year-old made sure to reach out to Shedeur directly during the draft. As Sanders sat undrafted through the first two days, Brady offered a message of encouragement, drawing on his own experience of being picked 199th overall.
“Dude, whatever happens, wherever you go-that’s your first day,” Brady told Sanders. “But day two matters the most in the draft.
“I was 199. Like, who could speak on it better than me? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances and take advantage of them.”
Shedeur will have to prove his worth quickly if he hopes to impress in Ohio and land the starting spot from the least favourable position. Even here, the ex-New England Patriot, ever the mentor, had more advice.
“He’s got to show up every day,” Brady added. “As a quarterback, you have to be a leader. And being a leader means: Do I care about my teammates? And do I care about what we’re trying to accomplish?
“Rules 1 and 2. I’d say that to every quarterback I come across.”
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