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Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
Early signs have pointed to the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but not everybody thinks that’s the best strategy. Many have argued that it would be wiser for the Raiders to trade down and accumulate more draft picks.
While that strategy has worked for teams in the past, the Raiders have had the No. 1 pick in the draft just twice in franchise history. This might be the best chance they’ve had at finding a franchise quarterback in years.
Adding more draft picks would help them fill out the rest of the roster, but it has been proven time and time again that it’s very difficult to win consistently without a good starting quarterback.
A big reason why Tom Telesco only lasted one season as the general manager for the Raiders was that he went into the 2024 season with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew as his quarterbacks. In his opinion, the Raiders shouldn’t even entertain the idea of trading the No. 1 pick.
“If I’m there, you can’t offer me enough. I’m taking Mendoza, fully knowing that we need a lot of other help him that we’re gonna have to build on the fly,” Telesco said on “The Schrager Hour.” “They’ve got plenty of cap space this year.”
“If I’m there, you can’t offer me enough. I’m taking Mendoza.”
Former #Raiders GM Tom Telesco, who drafted Brock Bowers in 2024, gives his thoughts on Las Vegas’ No. 1 overall pick, saying ‘nobody knows’ what their future draft position will be or how QB classes can turn out, so
Teams Around NFL Don’t Think Raiders Will Trade
The Raiders have been a struggling franchise for a long time. To make matters worse, they’ve had a very hard time building a fan base in Las Vegas.
One way to get fans motivated again is to bring in an exciting young quarterback. ESPN spoke to executives around the NFL, and they don’t believe there’s any chance the Raiders will trade the pick.
“Never say never, but never,” an AFC executive told ESPN.
Some executives understand the Raiders’ mindset. Though they need a lot of work, adding a player like Mendoza can fix a lot of problems.
“The Raiders’ roster is bad, but Mendoza is the best passer in the draft and it’s not close,” an NFC executive told ESPN. “You can’t pass that up. He’s accurate to all levels of the field with a good arm, plus-size and good character.”
Mendoza’s Upbeat Personality Can Help the Raiders
Not a lot of positive things have happened for the Raiders over the last two decades. It’s hard for players or fans to keep their spirits high.
Mendoza has proven to be a very good quarterback and thrower of the football, but that’s not his biggest strength. Arguably, what makes him most appealing is his leadership ability.
He’s consistently positive, and that positivity could help the Raiders through some tough times.
“That can be his superpower,” a different NFC executive said of Mendoza’s personality. “… He’s really that focused, and I think guys will gravitate toward that.”
It remains to be seen if Mendoza can be a superstar quarterback on the level of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, but at the very least, he should be a significant upgrade over what the Raiders have had in recent years.
Austin Boyd has covered the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Lakers for Heavy.com since 2019. A Los Angeles native now based in Las Vegas, his featured work at Heavy includes interviews with NFL stars Darren Waller and Joe Montana, and a behind-the-scenes look at “The Shop.” More about Austin Boyd
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