The Las Vegas Raiders appear to have closed the door on Shedeur Sanders after defensive end Maxx Crosby publicly endorsed quarterback Geno Smith as the franchise’s long-term solution.
Crosby dismissed the Colorado quarterback during a recent episode of his “The Rush with Maxx Crosby” podcast. The Raiders’ star pass-rusher called the 34-year-old Smith the team’s future and explained why he prefers the veteran over the rookie.
Just Blog Baby’s Levi Dombro reported that Sanders’ chances of joining Las Vegas have essentially disappeared.
“If the team’s franchise player can get behind a decision like this, then the fan base should not be too far behind him. While Sanders was certainly an exciting prospect for Raider Nation at one point during the offseason, that ship has sailed.”
Dombro added that Sanders could have developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber player at his best. At his worst, he noted, Sanders represents a distraction as a backup quarterback.
Sanders fell dramatically during the NFL Draft. He dropped from projected first-round pick to the fifth round, where the Cleveland Browns selected him as their second quarterback in two days.
Crosby had spoken with Sanders before the draft. After the Raiders passed on the Colorado quarterback, the defensive end’s tone shifted dramatically.
The timing suggests strategic positioning by Crosby.
Sanders’ pre-draft interviews reportedly cost him multiple opportunities with teams. His relationship with Tom Brady doesn’t appear strong enough to override Crosby’s influence within the Raiders organization.
Crosby signed a recent contract extension with Las Vegas. His status as the team’s franchise player gives significant weight to his quarterback preferences.
The development marks a setback for the “Grown QB” after Sanders strongly hinted he wanted to join the Raiders during his NFL career.
Sanders completed 74.2% of his passes for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns during his final season at Colorado. He led the Buffaloes to a 9-4 record and bowl game appearance.
The Raiders finished 4-13 last season with Smith starting 11 games. Smith threw for 2,560 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions before suffering a season-ending injury.
