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Geno Smith gives the Las Vegas Raiders the opportunity to look elsewhere when they make a selection with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Raiders were originally focused on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, a polarizing prospect with good upside who was thought to be there when they picked sixth. Now, there is a good chance he doesn't even fall to No. 6, as more and more mocks have tea ms picking two quarterbacks in the top five alone.
While Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart is catching up to Sanders, some believe he has surpassed Sanders, it still looks unlikely that Dart goes before Sanders.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is the consensus favorite Raiders pick, with just about every mock or simulation landing the Broncos star in the desert.
But Pro Football Focus' Josh Liskiewitz writes that Sanders is a player to bet on.
"Frankly, most quarterbacks fall under the 'boom-or-bust' label simply by nature of the position, but Shedeur Sanders feels especially fitting given the polarized takes on his draft stock," Liskiewitz wrote. "In this week’s mock draft, I sent Sanders to Cleveland with the No. 2 overall pick, yet since the combine, some have speculated he could fall out of the first round entirely.
"Accuracy and decision-making — two pillars of high-level quarterback play — give Sanders a real shot at becoming a franchise starter. His 81.8% adjusted completion rate ranked second in the country behind only Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel (81.9%), and Sanders’ average depth of target was 1.1 yards longer, meaning his throws were not only accurate but more challenging on average. Despite ranking fifth nationally with 481 pass attempts, he threw just eight turnover-worthy passes — good for a 1 .3% turnover-worthy play rate, the third-lowest in the country.
"For comparison, Cam Ward, the current favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Titans, posted a turnover-worthy throw rate of 3.3%, which ranked 49th.
"Sanders' accuracy is supported by his ability to drive the ball when necessary and layer throws between levels against zone coverage. While many top prospects enter the league with only a fastball, Sanders arrives with the changeup already in his arsenal.
"As for personality traits, I’m not overly concerned. Each team will have to determine whether he fits their culture, but in my view, Sanders is somewhat a victim of his last name when it comes to perception. This summer marks my 10-year anniversary at PFF, and in that 'decade of decadence,' I’ve yet to find a reliable way to quantify personality traits."
The Raiders don't need a quarterback at this stage, but they will certainly look to take one in this draft to sit for a year or two behind Smith. If they truly feel Sanders is that right choice, should they overlook filling immediate needs for the long-term?
More must-reads:
- Daniel Suarez comes up one spot shy of heroic, poetic Daytona victory
- Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham still searching for first win in second-tier return
- The '2024-25 NFL rushing touchdown leaders' quiz
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Brooks Koepka has called out Bryson DeChambeau for avoiding a direct matchup at the LIV Golf Semifinals and described him as a “strange cat.” The five-time major winner did not hold back after DeChambeau chose not to face him head-to-head in the Miami Team Championship on Saturday, reigniting one of golf’s most talked-about rivalries. Koepka Labels DeChambeau “Strange Cat” The Semifinals format allowed team captains to set up matchups, giving fans the chance to see blockbuster pairings. Many expected Koepka, captain of Smash GC, to face DeChambeau, captain of Crushers GC. Koepka even placed himself as his team’s top singles player, seemingly anticipating that showdown. Instead, DeChambeau put his teammate Anirban Lahiri against Koepka, while he took on Talor Gooch. The Semifinals represented a chance to reignite the rivalry on the course for many fans. A head-to-head match between Koepka and DeChambeau could have provided a dramatic highlight in a team event that thrives on drama. Instead, the matchup was avoided, leaving Koepka openly questioning DeChambeau’s mindset. That decision frustrated Koepka, who later questioned DeChambeau’s choice and argued that DeChambeau had robbed fans of the battle they wanted to see. “I don’t know what the thinking was behind that,” Koepka said. “I’d probably say the people would want to see that. I don’t know what he is afraid of. It’s just kind of… he beats his own drum, so he is a strange cat.” Koepka and DeChambeau Continue Rivalry The rivalry between Koepka and DeChambeau has been one of golf’s biggest storylines over the past five years. It began on the PGA Tour, when the two frequently clashed over comments, mannerisms, and competitive tensions. Their back-and-forths often spilled into press conferences and social media, making them headline figures even off the course. The move to LIV Golf has not cooled things down, and this latest incident shows the rivalry is still very much alive. When asked if he had any strategy he wanted to discuss regarding Bryson putting himself in the second singles slot, DeChambeau said: “I’ve got my reasons and it ain’t personal though. I can tell you that, it’s not personal.” DeChambeau decision to choose Gooch instead of Koepka may have been tactical. Gooch has been one of LIV’s most consistent performers, and Crushers GC were looking to secure a spot in the final. Still, the optics of skipping a direct face-off with Koepka gave plenty of fuel to critics and added another layer to their long-running feud. Whether the two will face each other in future events remains to be seen, but the demand from fans is clear. Their rivalry has often brought out some of the most memorable moments in modern golf, and many believe a head-to-head showdown is overdue.
Yankees' late implosion against Red Sox reveals bigger issues
If the New York Yankees are going to stay in contention for a postseason berth, the issues that surfaced in the ninth inning of Saturday's 12-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox must be resolved. Trailing 5-1 heading into the final frame at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox jumped on reliever Paul Blackburn for seven runs to turn the game into a laugher and put Boston in position for a sweep of the four-game series on Sunday. While the immediate reaction would be to point to Blackburn as the cause of New York's late struggles, a deeper look into the game reveals that the 31-year-old right-hander's teammates did little to help him escape from what became a 71-pitch outing. Playing right field, Giancarlo Stanton became an easy target for the aggressive Red Sox, taking extra bases when possible against the lumbering slugger. Playing just his ninth game in the outfield this season, Stanton showed that, at this stage of his career, his legs aren't going to get him to base hits quickly. Knowing Stanton would be slow to get to any kind of hit, Boston runners took advantage, including Trevor Story's ninth-inning single to right with Jarren Duran already on first base. With Stanton having to come up to field the ball, Duran didn't hesitate, going from first to third and beating Stanton's throw to the bag. What the Yankees saw from Stanton on Saturday should be an immediate reminder and warning sign that his days of doing anything productive outside of hitting are likely past him. Another problem in the ninth was a wild overthrow from Anthony Volpe on David Hamilton's grounder. While Volpe's throw went way over the head of first baseman Ben Rice, a closer look at the replay showed that Volpe hesitated and might have had a play at second base had Jazz Chisholm Jr. been covering the base. The loss was the third consecutive win by the Red Sox in the Bronx, a problem in and of itself for a Yankees team that is battling with Boston in the American League wild-card race. But the bigger problems are the optics of that ninth inning as well. With Yankees fans already frustrated with manager Aaron Boone, watching their arch-rival play fundamentally sound baseball while the Yankees botch the small things that become big innings will only make the temperature rise in the Bronx. While Yankees batters may have hit an MLB-leading 210 home runs this season entering Saturday's action, it's not just about the long ball. As Saturday showed, if New York can't do the little things right, not even the big hits may be able to keep the Yankees alive in the postseason hunt.
CFB Week 0 winners, losers: Fourth-down decisions loom large in ranked Big 12 showdown
Jets coaches try to calm situation in wake of Justin Fields' comments
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Kansas State HC defends controversial fourth-down call, blames field conditions in Ireland
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