Unsurprisingly, the Las Vegas Raiders invested heavily in the quarterback position during the NFL Combine.
Regardless of what the team does in free agency, they will almost certainly draft a quarterback in April after missing out on one last year. As such, the Raiders spent plenty of time with the prospects participating at the combine during their practice day on Saturday. Among the quarterbacks confirmed to have spoken with the Raiders are Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, both of whom are projected to be drafted high.
However, recent reports have indicated some problems with both candidates.
Some teams left interviews with a negative impression of Sanders
Recently, reports are circulating to suggest some teams drafting highly left with some negative opinions on Sanders.
“Both of these conversations were with, let’s just say, high-ranking personnel people in different personnel departments for different NFL teams,” McShay said on his YouTube show “The McShay Show.” “Both of those teams are drafting in the top 10, both of those teams have a need at quarterback.”
“The two people that I spoke to were in meetings and had these individual meetings … left the meeting feeling like Shedeur Sanders was not overly concerned with what they thought of him.”
This was not the only report suggesting Sanders left negative impressions during his Combine interviews, as NFL insider Josina Anderson also mentioned a team with a top-seven draft pick thought of him as “brash” and “arrogant.”
I am disappointed to hear that a quarterbacks coach from a team drafting in the top 7 referred to Shedeur Sanders as coming off “brash” and “arrogant” in his team interview and making his assessment known to a number of people, per source. I’m purposely not naming the team, as… pic.twitter.com/OjCTciEZIa
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 3, 2025
These reports have lead to wild fluctuation in Sanders’ draft stock. Now, the Colorado quarterback is being placed anywhere from the top five picks to out of the first round altogether in mock drafts. While some analysts such as Anderson consider the reports to be unfair, multiple sources reporting on the same issue cannot be ignored.
Even if none of these comments came from the Raiders, they will still take this into consideration when they make their decision.
NFL insider not sold on Dart
According to The Athletic’s Raiders insider Vic Tafur, Dart’s rising draft stock has lead to an out-of-control hype train that might not be justifiable.
I know everyone is pushing Jaxson Dart into the first round but I just don’t see it on film. Often late on throws, don’t love his pocket presence. Plus the questions about ability to play in pro-style offense.
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) March 4, 2025
With Tafur being directly connected to the Raiders, this comes across as a little more specific to the team.
While Dart put up great numbers at Ole Miss, the main concern with him is how he will function in a pro-style offense. Head coach Lane Kiffin’s offensive scheme is notorious for being college-friendly, setting up quarterbacks and receivers with favorable positions to exploit mismatches. Those advantages do not carry over to the NFL, which has lead to some recent Rebel draftees struggling.
If the Raiders have interest in selecting Dart, they will only do so if they feel confident in his skillset translating to the pros.
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