The Las Vegas Raiders, like the rest of the NFL, repeatedly passed on Shedeur Sanders during last month’s draft. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady’s relationship with Sanders adds an interesting element to that decision.
In an interview on the Impaulsive podcast, Brady was asked his thoughts on why the Colorado quarterback fell to pick No. 144.
“It’s a good question,” Brady said after stuttering at the inquiry. “I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process.”
He continued: “I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well, and I said, ‘Dude, like, whatever happens, wherever you go, like, that’s your first day. Day 2 matters more than the draft. I was [pick] 199. So, who could speak on it better than me, like, what that really means? Use it as motivation. You’re gonna get your chances. Go take advantage of it.'”
Brady was expected to have a voice in the Raiders’ quarterback selection process this offseason. Perhaps he did with the trade for Geno Smith. The way general manager John Spytek discussed sixth-round pick QB Cam Miller, noting that Brady “liked the way he threw it,” suggests Brady was at least asked about the former North Dakota State product.
Regardless of how much Brady was involved in the Raiders’ QB evaluation process, the team’s brain trust decided to pass on Sanders seven times. Even the Browns, who eventually ended Sanders’ slide in the fifth round, passed on him six times, including when they drafted fellow rookie QB Dillon Gabriel in Round 3.
Brady’s advice: “Use it as motivation. Wherever you end up going, it’s about your performance. What do you do when you get there?”