When Tom Brady vouches for someone, it’s hard to ignore, and that’s exactly what the Raiders did when they picked Geno Smith. But the past five weeks haven’t exactly lived up to minority owner Brady’s high expectations. After a brutal 40-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Raiders sit at 1-4, anchoring the bottom of the AFC West. Their playoff hopes are slipping away fast. And now, Damian Lillard is stepping in, ready to offer suggestions on how the Raiders might still turn things around, though, according to him, it won’t be with Smith at the helm.

Damian Lillard took to X to make a case for Shedeur Sanders. He suggested while replying to a user, “He [Geno Smith is] not washed… he just turning the ball over. But it’s time to get Shedeur [Sanders] on the team and get ready for the future.” Lillard believes Geno still has the skills, but he sees Sanders as the key to giving the Raiders a real shot at wins.

Recently, the Browns switched Dillon Gabriel in for Joe Flacco, which many thought could elevate Sanders to QB2, but that didn’t happen, and he remains third on the depth chart. The question arises: would the Raiders consider trading for Sanders to shake things up?

Shedeur experienced one of the wildest draft slides in recent memory. Once seen as a potential first-round pick, he fell to the fifth round, surprising many. Dillon Gabriel was chosen earlier and is now the Browns’ immediate starter.

But does that leave Sanders sitting out on the bench this season? Reportedly, he’s expected to play at some point this year, once he’s fully ready with a game plan tailored just for him.

Sanders made headlines recently when he told reporters he believes he can outperform some of the NFL’s current starters.

The comments drew some criticism, but he kept a low profile in the locker room. In college, Sanders was a star at Colorado, completing 74% of his passes for 4,134 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. He left as the FBS leader in career completion percentage at 71.8%, though he also faced heavy pressure, taking 94 sacks over his previous two seasons.

Despite all the hype, Sanders is still behind Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel in Cleveland’s depth chart. However, the Browns’ shift to Gabriel shows that Sanders could become available if he grows frustrated with limited opportunities.

He represents a potential long-term solution for the Raiders, especially for an offense that has weapons like Jeanty and Brock Bowers but struggles to protect the quarterback. Even so, Sanders seems comfortable in his QB3 role.

He told ESPN, “It’s fun going out there and competing every day. I’m thankful for my situation. I’m thankful I’m able to see the ball in a different light and to be able to get a different perspective than I have. I’m able to grow mentally, physically, emotionally, everything, to become my best self.”

While the Raiders might dream of adding him, Sanders is making the most of his current opportunity in Cleveland.

Raiders QB gamble firebacks

When the Raiders pulled off the trade for Geno Smith last spring, many fans probably shrugged. It wasn’t a move that screamed Super Bowl contender- it was just supposed to stabilize the quarterback spot. Fast-forward five weeks, and it’s safe to say that the plan has blown up in their faces. 

After a brutal 40-6 loss to the Colts, the Raiders sit at 1-4. And Smith has been making many mistakes, throwing the ball to the other team nine times.

Seven of those mistakes even helped the other team score 35 points! That’s a lot, and it’s one of the worst starts for a Raiders quarterback ever, tying him with Josh McCown and Kerry Collins for second-most picks through five games since 1970.

Part of the problem isn’t just Geno. Some players who are supposed to help him block the other team are hurt, like Brock Bowers, and the overall offense has struggled to click.

Even with all that, the 35-year-old is not the answer. He’s 35 years old and is supposed to be the guy leading the team, but so far, he’s just filling in, like some of the other quarterbacks the Raiders tried before, namely Garoppolo, Minshew, and O’Connell.

“We’re here to win,” Smith said at his introductory press conference, but the Raiders haven’t come close through five games. Meanwhile, Pete Carroll admitted, “I’m processing it poorly, to tell you the truth… [be]cause I did expect to win right out of the chutes.” The confidence that came with Tom Brady’s backing hasn’t translated to results on the field.

Now the question becomes clear: the Raiders need a long-term solution at quarterback. They’ve already missed chances in previous drafts to lock in a young QB, and Smith’s struggles only underline the urgency.