NFL Rumors: Insiders Feel Raiders Want to Trade to Draft Cam Ward, Not Shedeur Sanders

The Las Vegas Raiders are viewed as a team targeting a move up to select Miami quarterback Cam Ward in the 2025 NFL draft, according to Sportskeeda's Tony Pauline.

"The overall belief from people in the league is that the Las Vegas Raiders will be one of the teams actively attempting to trade up with the hopes of selecting quarterback Cam Ward," Pauline wrote on Monday.

The Raiders currently own the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 draft, which could put them in the range of Colorado signal-caller Shedeur Sanders.

Pauline noted that there's a "reasonable chance" Sanders could fall to Las Vegas on draft night, but the team is still expected to be pursue trading up for Ward.

The Raiders are coming off a 2024 season in which they started three separate quarterbacks including Aidan O'Connell, Desmond Ridder and Gardner Minshew. None of the passers stood out, as Las Vegas ended the year with a 4-13 record.

It's easy to see why the Raiders would be enticed by Ward, as he's coming off a stellar senior season with the Hurricanes. He completed 67.2 percent of his throws for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns compared to seven interceptions in 2024.

Ward should hear his name called early on draft night, meaning that Las Vegas would likely need to trade up in order to acquire him. The 22-year-old was projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the latest mock draft from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

While Sanders may be available without requiring a move, the Raiders are believed to have their sights set on Ward.