Wait ’Til Next Year: Raiders Rumors Links Team to Ben Johnson, Shedeur Sanders
- Get the best Super Bowl 59 odds at BetUS.
- The Raiders are in search of a new quarterback and head coach.
- How much can the Tom Brady effect give the Raiders a boost?
Few teams have been the subject of NFL rumors quite like the Las Vegas Raiders as the team’s season came to a disappointing end. There are plenty of NFL football predictions on what the Raiders will do this offseason.
Did we mention Tom Brady is part of the ownership group? It’s a good thing because the franchise is in desperate need of help.
Here’s what you need to know about the Raiders offseason.
4 Things to Know About the Raiders in 2025
1. So, the Raiders Are Going to Land Shedeur Sanders, Coach Prime and Ben Johnson, Right?
The Raiders rumors intensified during the season as Shedeur Sanders appeared to drop hints about his desire to be in Vegas. After the Raiders fired Antonio Pierce it also prompted speculation that the franchise could try to make a run at Sanders and Coach Prime as a package deal.
Deion Sanders is meeting with the Raiders today & said he likes the idea of Shilo & Shedeur Sanders playing in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/YfMYIK5vAz
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) July 11, 2024
A more realistic NFL rumor has Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as a serious candidate to be the next Raiders head coach. It appears Brady’s recruiting pitch is working.
Make it happen, Raiders. pic.twitter.com/WGxpMrx8ui
— Raider Posts (@RaiderPosts) January 13, 2025
“Johnson wants to be a head coach but is waiting for the right opportunity,” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed detailed on January 15.
“That’s why it has come as a surprise to some that he’s seriously considering the Raiders.”
“Feels like the worst-kept secret in sports right now, that Shedeur Sanders wants to go to the #Raiders.”
– @danorlovsky7 on @GetUpESPN pic.twitter.com/nHXYQTnP8l
— Pro Football Post (@ProFootballPost) December 10, 2024
2. NFL Draft 2025: The Raiders Hold the No. 6 Pick
Las Vegas is expected to be in the quarterback market but faces a challenge in finding their future franchise QB in the NFL draft. The Raiders hold the No. 6 pick, but Sanders and Cam Ward have a chance to be selected with the first two picks.
This means Vegas may need to take a quarterback later in the draft or attempt to find a veteran option either in NFL free agency or via trade. The Raiders could also attempt to move up in the draft to land either Sanders or Ward. The NFL betting odds have Ward as a slight favorite to be selected by the Titans with the No. 1 pick at -130.
BetUS Sportsbook has Sanders as a close second at -130
3. NFL Schedule 2025: Raiders Face Cowboys, Commanders, Eagles and Texans
The challenge for the Raiders is the team finds itself in a challenging AFC West as the lone team in the division who did not make the NFL playoffs. The Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos all won 10 or more games.
In addition to the AFC West matchups, the Raiders will face the Commanders, Eagles, Texans and Cowboys as part of the team’s 2025 schedule. The pressure is mounting for the Raiders to improve the team’s roster in a hurry.
Tom Brady will be on the call for this weekend’s #Lions vs. #Commanders matchup.
With Ben Johnson on the Lions’ sidelines and Brady serving as both a broadcaster and a minority owner of the Raiders, who need a new HC, how much of a conflict of interest does that create? pic.twitter.com/Hje0yW2Zo6
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) January 15, 2025
Las Vegas is likely to be underdogs in the NFL lines for many of these matchups.
4. The Raiders Are Projected to Have Nearly $100 Million in Cap Space
The good news is the Raiders should be major players in NFL free agency. Las Vegas is projected to have $99.4 million in cap space this offseason, the second most in the league, per Spotrac.
Las Vegas also has some key pieces on long-term contracts, including Christian Wilkins and Maxx Crosby. The NFL free agent class (pending the team’s decisions on using the franchise tag), could include Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, Dolphins safety Jevon Holland, Bucs wideout Chris Godwin and Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack.
The #Raiders have 108M in cap space this year, and it sounds like a lot until you realize they have 27 pending free agents: pic.twitter.com/UfQ3pktdHv
— Sanjit T. (@Sanjit__T) January 3, 2025
A few big moves could drastically improve the Raiders odds, so make sure to keep an eye out on any news before making any NFL betting picks.
Questions of the Day
What division do the Raiders play in?
The Raiders are in the AFC West.
What draft pick do the Raiders have?
The Raiders have the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft.
