Project Fernando Mendoza is well underway with the Raiders, with the club working around the clock to build a strong infrastructure for its soon-to-be rookie quarterback, even before he sets foot in the building.<\/p>\n
That day is right around the corner, and preparation for it means the Raiders are spending more than $280 million in guaranteed contracts to improve their offensive line with the addition of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, at wide receiver with the signing of former Vikings speedster Jalen Nailor and significant defensive improvements \u2014 not only by adding four new starters but also by creating big-time upgrades in each case.<\/p>\n
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is almost certain to go to the Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. AP<\/p>\n
With the heavy lifting pretty much complete in free agency, they turn their attention to the NFL draft<\/a>, where they hold 10 selections, including the first overall pick and picks at or near the top of every round thereafter.<\/p>\n Nailing the draft would put a bow on what appears to be the club\u2019s best offseason in years.<\/p>\n Here is how we see the first three rounds playing out for the Raiders<\/a>:<\/p>\n Round 1, No. 1<\/p>\n Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana<\/p>\n The Raiders<\/a> have been searching for their franchise-caliber quarterback for years. Whether they won meaningless games at the end of meaningless seasons to keep them out of the draft range for a top prospect, or passed on quarterbacks including Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts over the years, they always came up empty.<\/p>\n Finally, the football powers that be are looking out for them. After finishing in a four-way tie for the NFL\u2019s worst record, a quirky tiebreaker pushed the Raiders all the way to the top pick in the draft.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Given that only one quarterback in this draft projects as a can\u2019t-miss prospect, it can\u2019t be overstated how fortuitous that tiebreaker turned out to be.<\/p>\n Mendoza may not be a Day 1 starter, but it\u2019s only a matter of time before the Indiana Heisman Trophy winner gets the call to lead the Raiders out of the darkness. A million variables will determine whether he\u2019s capable of eventually carrying the Silver and Black back to Super Bowl prominence, but if this offseason is any indication, the Raiders are determined to maximize their new asset and not be the reason he falls short.<\/p>\n Washington wideout Denzel Boston would be an inviting target for the Raiders\u2019 next quarterback. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Round 2, No. 36<\/p>\n Denzel Boston, WR, Washington<\/p>\n The Raiders added Nailor in free agency, and he\u2019ll provide speed and versatility, primarily out of the slot, to complement tight end Brock Bowers, the Raiders\u2019 top receiving target.<\/p>\n Veteran Tre Tucker should fit in nicely in Klint Kubiak\u2019s offense, and there is hope that Jack Bech and Dont\u2019e Thornton Jr. take significant steps forward in their second seasons.<\/p>\n But the Raiders need a big, physical X receiver type, and they catch a break when Boston takes a bit of a draft night tumble and falls into their laps in the second round.<\/p>\n Boston is scheduled to visit with the Raiders this weekend in Las Vegas, so he is clearly on their radar. He\u2019s one of the true X receivers and is coming off a season in which he had 62 catches for 881 yards and tied for the ninth-most touchdown catches in the FBS with 11.<\/p>\n He is also a willing and effective blocker, which is critical in Kubiak\u2019s offense and a must when it comes to maximizing young running back Ashton Jeanty.<\/p>\n Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange would be a good third-round pickup for the Raiders. Getty Images<\/p>\n Round 3, No. 67<\/p>\n Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State<\/p>\n The Raiders got busy remaking their defense in free agency, trading for slot cornerback Taron Johnson, signing linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean and edge rusher Kwity Paye, and re-signing cornerback Eric Stokes.<\/p>\n They also got defensive end Maxx Crosby back when the Ravens nixed a trade for him on a failed physical.<\/p>\n One area they didn\u2019t address was nose tackle, and with new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard making a move to a base 3-4 defense, the Raiders need a space-eating interior defensive lineman capable of making plays in the backfield and eating double teams to create space for Walker and Dean to make plays.<\/p>\n At 6-foot-2, 322 pounds, Orange is a prototypical nose tackle. He doesn\u2019t add much as a pass rusher, which is why he could be available in the third round, but as an early-down run stopper and double-team eater, he\u2019d fill a big role for the Raiders and help free up Walker and Dean.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t
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