In the wake of the NFL Draft, resurfaced comments from Tom Brady have reignited discussion about his relationship with quarterback Shedeur Sanders—and his influence within the Las Vegas Raiders’ front office.
Brady previously offered some tough-love advice to Sanders, urging him to focus on preparation over flash. “Get your ass in the film room and spend as much time in there as possible and less time in the car,” Brady reportedly told the young quarterback.
But after Sanders fell further in the draft than expected, Brady was put on the spot during an appearance on the Impaulsive podcast. Asked directly why Sanders dropped so far, Brady stumbled over his words before distancing himself from the process entirely
Tom Brady Walks a Fine Line on Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Slide and Las Vegas Raiders Involvement
“There’s… I — I — it’s a good question,” Brady replied. “I wasn’t a part of any evaluation process or to see that.”
When one of the hosts brought up media pundit Skip Bayless claiming otherwise, Brady shot back with some frustration: “I know, well, everyone’s got every—you know. That’s the problem with media is everyone can just say whatever the f*** they want.”
Later in the segment, Brady clarified that he reached out to Sanders personally after the draft. “I actually texted Shedeur because I know him very well,” Brady said. “And I said, ‘Dude, like, whatever happens, wherever you go, that’s your first day. Day two matters more than the draft. I was [pick number] 199. Yeah. 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’s perspective as a late-round legend carries weight, but the reality is that the earlier a player is drafted, the more opportunities they’re likely to receive. First- and second-day picks typically get at least a full season to prove themselves. For someone who slips, like Sanders did, the margin for error shrinks dramatically.
As for Brady’s denial of involvement in the evaluation process, skeptics remain unconvinced. Back in December, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport quoted Raiders owner Mark Davis as saying Brady “will have a huge voice in the organization when it comes to picking the quarterback.” While the team’s long-term QB plans may be set for now, it’s hard to imagine Brady’s influence not extending to a prospect he says he knows “very well.”
Brady was clearly involved in the selection of quarterback Cam Miller in the sixth round—further casting doubt on claims that he wasn’t at least tangentially involved in evaluating Sanders.
Some believe Brady is carefully walking a political line—offering public support for Sanders while avoiding a position that would contradict Davis’ on-record statements. It’s a move that preserves relationships, even if it leaves questions about transparency.
For context, the Raiders passed on Shedeur Sanders seven times. Their final pick before Sanders came off the board was just nine slots earlier, at No. 135. Sanders was ultimately selected at No. 144.
Whether Brady truly had no say, or is simply choosing his words wisely remains an open question.