NFL Rumors: Raiders Don't Have 'Mandate' to Draft QB amid Shedeur Sanders Buzz

Despite speculation to the contrary, Las Vegas Raiders ownership is reportedly not demanding the selection of a quarterback early in the 2025 NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez, a team source said that rumors of Raiders owner Mark Davis issuing a mandate to general manager Tom Telesco to take a quarterback are "simply not true."

University of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been heavily linked to the Raiders, especially after posting video of the Raiders' Allegiant Stadium on his Instagram stories on Friday, along with the caption, "Legendary."

At 2-10, the Raiders have been one of the NFL's worst teams this season, and they would pick second overall in the 2025 NFL draft if the season ended today.

The Raiders have not invested an early draft pick in a quarterback since 2014 when they took Derek Carr in the second round. Carr spent the next nine seasons as the Raiders' starting quarterback, but they released him following the 2022 campaign.

Before the 2023 season, Vegas signed veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to replace Carr, but he threw just seven touchdown passes and nine interceptions in six starts, which led to him getting replaced by rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell.

While O'Connell performed admirably, there was a great deal of speculation regarding the Raiders taking a quarterback high in the 2024 draft. Instead, they signed veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew in free agency and entered the season with Minshew and O'Connell as their quarterback option.

Minshew won the starting job, but struggled mightily to the tune of a 2-7 record and 2,013 passing yards, nine touchdowns and 10 picks.

O'Connell has been better, but he has gone 0-3 as a starter, throwing for 795 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Raiders have a massive need at quarterback, and if they pick high in the 2025 draft, they may be able to address it.

Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward appear to clearly be the two best quarterback options in the draft, and it remains to be seen if any others will play their way into the first-round conversation.

As of now, the Raiders are in line to have a shot at one of them, but if they win a couple of games down the stretch, that may not be the case.

The lack of a quarterback mandate suggests that while it is known the Raiders need a QB, they may not force it by taking one if the value isn't there.