It's no secret that the Las Vegas Raiders are a team that is in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. With a new tandem of Pete Carroll and John Spytek running things for this once-great organization, many fans expect this experienced duo to solve the quarterback position immediately.
While the Raiders could be out of range to draft either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, the consensus top two quarterbacks in the draft, many feel that the team should either trade up or select one of them if they fall down the draft board. NFL Network's Cynthia Frelund feels differently, however, and thinks the team would still pass on Sanders if he is available at No. 6 in favor of Tyler Booker, an interior offensive lineman from Alabama.
"I know some people might argue an IOL in the top 10 isn’t sexy, but I don’t know if there’s anything more desirable than creating a fortress for a QB to operate behind," wrote Frelund on the selection. "The Alabama product kept his base lowest for the longest of any offensive lineman in this draft class, and his size is right in the sweet spot for an interior blocker."
Colorado Buffaloes QB Shedeur Sanders
Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
While having a powerful offensive line is critical for the success of an NFL team, the Raiders' group last season was by no means their weakness. There is only one free agent out of the six players who started games on the offensive line last season in Las Vegas, and it is Jordan Meredith, for whom the Raiders have exclusive rights.
In her mock draft, Frelund has Sanders falling further down the draft board than most. Sanders had to wait until pick No. 9 and was chosen by the New Orleans Saints.
"The Saints' head coach vacancy throws a bit of a wrench into my model's pick for New Orleans, but Sanders would be an exceptional value at No. 9, no matter who lands the job," wrote Frelund. "My model is high on Sanders for his accuracy and very high on him for his playmaking skills on downs after he's been pressured. In that latter area, he ranks near the top among all QB prospects in my 10-season sample. If you use that metric as a proxy for toughness, and then consider his relatively small size for his position, it's even more impressive."
