Shedeur Sanders Posts IG Photo with Geno Smith Before NFL Draft amid Raiders Rumors

NFL draft prospect Shedeur Sanders posted a photo on his Instagram Stories alongside Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith on Sunday.

Because the Raiders hold the No. 6 pick and Sanders is considered one of the top quarterback prospects available at the 2025 NFL draft, there will be those who extrapolate that a photo of Sanders and Smith could be a form of foreshadowing.

Because Smith is 34—and because he's currently only under contract for one more season—the Raiders could consider him a bridge quarterback and might be looking to add a successor at this year's draft.

The Raiders gave up a third-round pick to acquire him and reunite him with head coach Pete Carroll, however, which doesn't exactly scream "bridge quarterback." And if the Raiders ultimately sign Smith to a multi-year extension, that will make it even more unlikely that the team will pursue a player like Sanders.

Instead, the Raiders will likely address one of their many other needs on the roster in the first round and could wait until the second or third day to add a young quarterback that they want to groom. While there has been a lot of buzz that Sanders might drop at the draft, it's hard to imagine he would be available past the early stages of the second round, if he lasts that long.

It feels more likely that the Raiders would want to pair Smith with a bit more of a developmental project like a Jalen Milroe or Will Howard.

As for Sanders, the B/R NFL Scouting Department has him ranked at No. 18 overall on its latest big board, ranking him second at quarterback behind only Miami's Cam Ward, and considers him the most "most accurate" and "most pro-ready" quarterback in the Class of 2025.