Las Vegas Raiders' new general manager John Spytek has given an indication that the team may be leaning towards with their sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft, and it's not ideal news for Shedeur Sanders.
The Raiders already appeared to rule themselves out of drafting Sanders after trading for, and then extending, Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks. The Raiders gave up a third-round pick as well as signing him to a two-year, $85 million deal, being under contract through the 2027 season while setting out his goals with the team.
But immediate rumors followed that Las Vegas could still hold interest in drafting Sanders, while running back Ashton Jeanty had been the clear favorite for them with the sixth overall pick. New head coach Pete Carroll leans heavily on the running game, with Jeanty comparing himself to his former Seahawks back Marshawn Lynch.
And when asked about his intentions in the draft with the sixth overall pick, Spytek admitted that he does not believe it to be too early to select a running back.
Spytek answered that question by stating: "I mean we just saw Saquon Barkley just change the Eagles in one year. There's certain ways to build a team, and I don't know where we got to a place where we don't feel like running backs are valued. I come from the University of Michigan, and those guys were certainly really valued there. So, it's hard for me to get away from that."
Jeanty is seen as the best running back to enter the NFL Draft in years, having dominated at Boise State with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final year with the school.
Shedeur Sanders to the Raiders is looking less likely (
Getty Images)
And while he looks to be the runaway favorite, Spytek did not close the door on adding a quarterback alongside Smith, after bringing in a number of quarterbacks to interview. He said: "You guys have all done your investigative journalism well enough to know that we brought some quarterbacks in. And that wasn't by accident. We remain open to the most important position in sports to get right."
One of those players who the Raiders had brought in was Sanders, with his legendary father, Deion Sanders, already indicating that he'd like to his son to be drafted by them.
