With the 2026 NFL Draft still months away, the conversation around the top of the board is already heating up — and for good reason. Mel Kiper Jr.’s final mock draft for ESPN, released in late January, projects a seismic shift at the very top: the second overall pick could go to a quarterback who isn’t currently viewed as the consensus No. 1 prospect. That development alone has sent ripples through front offices, fan bases and fantasy leagues alike.
According to Kiper’s projection, the Las Vegas Raiders, holding the No. 2 overall selection after a trade down from No. 1 with the Chicago Bears, are poised to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The move would mark a bold statement for a franchise in transition, one that has struggled to find stability at the quarterback position since Derek Carr’s departure. Sanders, the son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, has emerged as a polarizing yet compelling figure in this year’s class — praised for his poise, accuracy, and leadership, but questioned for his arm strength and consistency against elite pressure.
To verify the context of this projection, we consulted multiple authoritative sources. The Raiders’ official site confirms they acquired the No. 2 pick in a 2025 trade with Chicago that sent their original No. 6 selection and a 2026 third-rounder to the Bears in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick and a 2025 fourth-rounder — a deal first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and later confirmed by both teams. As of February 2025, Las Vegas has not officially announced its draft strategy, but head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that “finding a franchise quarterback is our North Star.”
Shedeur Sanders’ collegiate resume is impressive on paper. In his lone season as Colorado’s starter in 2024, he threw for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions, leading the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl. His completion percentage of 68.2% ranked among the top five in FBS, and his passer rating of 152.4 was the highest in the nation among qualifiers. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 1 quarterback in college football for efficiency under pressure, noting his quick release and ability to read blitzes.
Yet concerns linger. Sanders averaged just 6.9 yards per attempt in 2024 — below the 7.5 threshold often associated with NFL-ready downfield threats. His sack rate of 8.1% was also higher than ideal, particularly given Colorado’s offensive line allowed the third-most pressures in the Power Four. Analysts at ESPN and The Athletic have noted that while Sanders thrives in structured, rhythm-based concepts, his ability to create off-platform or withstand heavy NFL rushes remains untested at the highest level.
Still, the Raiders’ interest makes sense in context. Las Vegas finished 2024 with a 6-11 record, ranking 28th in passing yards per game and dead last in red-zone efficiency. The team invested heavily in its offensive line during free agency, signing two veteran starters to anchor the interior, and added speed at wide receiver with the acquisition of Kansas City’s Marquez Valdes-Scantling. A quarterback who can deliver the ball quickly and accurately — Sanders’ hallmark — would fit neatly into a West Coast-inspired scheme under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Kiper’s mock also includes a notable trade scenario: the Arizona Cardinals, picking at No. 4, are projected to trade up to No. 2 with Las Vegas to select Michigan’s Jayden Daniels, leaving Sanders to fall to the Raiders at No. 4. However, Kiper’s base projection holds firm — Vegas takes Sanders at 2 — and he argues that the Raiders’ need for a quarterback of Sanders’ caliber outweighs the risk of reaching slightly ahead of where some analysts have him ranked.
To contextualize Sanders’ standing, we reviewed consensus rankings from three major outlets. ESPN’s own internal board (as of mid-February) lists him as the No. 3 quarterback prospect behind Michigan’s Jayden Daniels and LSU’s Walker Howard. CBS Sports has him at No. 2, while The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks him fourth. The variance reflects differing evaluations of his ceiling versus floor — a classic debate in quarterback scouting.
What’s clear is that Sanders represents more than just a player evaluation. He carries immense cultural weight. His decision to play for his father at Colorado revitalized a struggling program, brought unprecedented media attention to the Pac-12’s final season, and sparked national conversations about legacy, opportunity, and the evolving role of quarterback leadership. If selected by the Raiders, he would become the first son of a Pro Football Hall of Famer to be drafted in the top two since Eli Manning in 2004.
The implications extend beyond Las Vegas. If Sanders is taken at No. 2, it would likely push Walker Howard or Quinn Ewers into the top three — potentially triggering a run on quarterbacks that could spot four signal-callers go in the first five picks for the first time since 2021. That would significantly alter the value of later picks, potentially boosting the stock of non-quarterback talents like Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau or Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.
For now, nothing is set in stone. The NFL Scouting Combine concluded in early March, and pro days are underway across the country. Sanders is scheduled to work out at Colorado’s pro day on March 26, where scouts will closely examine his velocity, footwork, and ability to handle simulated NFL pressures. The Raiders, like all teams, will have until the draft — set for April 23–25 in Green Bay, Wisconsin — to finalize their evaluations.
As the countdown continues, one thing is certain: the debate over Shedeur Sanders isn’t just about football. It’s about trust in a process, belief in a lineage, and the courage to bet on a quarterback who doesn’t just throw the ball — he carries the weight of a legacy. Whether Mel Kiper’s projection proves accurate remains to be seen. But for the Raiders, and for fans watching the future unfold, the stakes have never been higher.
The next checkpoint in this story is the official NFL Draft, beginning April 23 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Coverage will start at 8:00 p.m. ET / 00:00 UTC on NFL Network and ESPN. Fans can follow live updates via the NFL’s official app or website. What do you think — should Las Vegas take Shedeur Sanders at No. 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to spread the conversation on social media.
