Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady has clearly shown he has no issue throwing his weight around this offseason.
While the Raiders confirmed that Brady would have a major role in the decision-making process, few likely anticipated just how liberally he would use his newfound power.
Brady was vital in bringing in former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to interview for the Raiders’ head coaching vacancy, and the team almost landed him before he bolted and joined the Chicago Bears on Tuesday.
Despite the disappointment, Brady and the Raiders dusted themselves off quickly, hiring Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek on Wednesday to become their new general manager.
With Spytek now sitting in the front office, Brady has confirmed he will have some pull going forward. If the theme so far has been the future Hall of Famer maximizing his connections, an endless line of possibilities begins to open up.
That includes the draft, where the Raiders currently sit with the sixth overall selection. However, Brady likely already has eyes on one top prospect: Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
Brady and Sanders have worked out together, with the future Hall of Fame quarterback serving as a mentor figure. Sanders was also the first athlete signed to an NIL deal by Brady’s clothing brand, the BRADY Brand.
Needless to say, Brady will be excited by the prospect of adding Sanders to the Raiders. According to CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso’s latest mock draft, Brady’s determination pushes the Raiders to trade for the first overall selection and draft Sanders.
“We cannot rule out the possibility of the Raiders — and new minority owner Tom Brady — making an aggressive push to draft Shedeur Sanders,” wrote Trapasso. “There’s a chance Sanders’ connection with Brady will make it too dicey for Las Vegas to simply hope and wait for him to fall to No. 6 overall.”
While some mock drafts have seen Sanders fall to the Raiders at six, the odds of that happening are relatively low. The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants, who respectively hold the first and third picks, are looking for franchise quarterbacks, and the Cleveland Browns might be in the market for one with the second pick after Deshaun Watson’s injury setback.
The Raiders would have to give up serious draft capital and possibly a player or two to make a deal work with the Titans, and it is unclear if Spytek will be eager to begin his career as GM with a franchise-altering move.
However, the Raiders have a serious need for a franchise quarterback, and the fanbase has grown restless after free agent signings Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew failed to move the needle.
Sanders is the type of young talent that the Raiders have been clamoring for at the position, and his connection to Brady could be the catalyst for Las Vegas to make their big move of the offseason.
Raiders make earth-shattering trade for number one pick in mock draft
