Is the dream still dead? Or did Las Vegas\u2019 new coach just open the door a little bit? <\/p>\n
The New York Jets have the second overall pick in April\u2019s 2026 NFL draft. Their current standing has led many to believe the team won\u2019t be able to take Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Instead, the Raiders (with the top overall pick) are expected to select Mendoza.<\/p>\n
That belief was only compounded by Vegas\u2019 hiring of Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as its head coach. <\/p>\n
Kubiak, as an offense-minded individual, is expected to bring a quarterback of his choice to the organization. Mendoza is the top quarterback this draft cycle, so the fit does make sense. <\/a><\/p>\n But that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the dream is dead for the Jets, especially after comments from the Raiders\u2019 new coach.<\/p>\n Jets\u2019 draft dream<\/p>\n In his introductory press conference as the Raiders\u2019 coach, Kubiak made it clear that, while Mendoza was a top talent, there wouldn\u2019t be any public conversations about the team\u2019s decision yet.<\/p>\n \u201cA really talented guy, with a bright future,\u201d Kubiak said of Mendoza. \u201cWe\u2019ll see where he ends, but we got a lot of work to do to get to know him before that time comes.\u201d<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t exactly sound like a coach who has a surefire idea of what his team plans to do in the draft.<\/p>\n Now, let\u2019s be fair. Just because the new head coach of a team makes non-committal comments about a prospect in the media, it does not mean they will not draft the player. Kubiak has a lot on his plate when it comes to filling out a staff and fixing the organization in free agency. His comment should be considered nothing more than coachspeak heading into the 2026 combine.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a safe bet to assume that Mendoza will still be the Raiders\u2019 pick regardless of Kubiak\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n But everyone and their mother knew that the Jacksonville Jaguars were taking Trevor Lawrence when he was the top player available in 2021. No one doubted the Cincinnati Bengals were taking Joe Burrow in 2020. <\/p>\n When there\u2019s a \u201ccan\u2019t miss\u201d quarterback prospect coming out of college, teams aren\u2019t going to play around. Mendoza, for as special a season as his final year was in Indiana, is not the kind of prospect comparable to those top individuals.<\/p>\n He\u2019s still a great prospect, but he does objectively have trouble dealing with pressure from the pocket.<\/a> While it did not bite Indiana during their national championship run, NFL defenses could feast on that kind of issue.<\/p>\n