The Las Vegas Raiders are in a great position.
They need a quarterback and they have the No. 1 overall draft pick. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is widely considered the only player at the position who is worthy of being a top pick. So, Mendoza will likely be drafted by the Raiders.
Yet, several other teams need a quarterback, so the Raiders might get calls about the No. 1 pick. Here is a look at the other teams who need a quarterback, presented in alphabetical order:
Arizona Cardinals:
Arizona is likely going to cut ties with Kyler Murray, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2019, this offseason. The Cardinals have the No. 3 pick. So, if they want Mendoza, they can offer the Raiders a nice package.
Cleveland Browns:
Maybe Shedeur Sanders is the answer in 2026 and maybe he isn’t. The Browns will likely look for an upgrade. They have the No. 6 pick in the first round.
Indianapolis Colts:
Daniel Jones is hurt and a free agent. So, expect the Colts to to explore getting a new quarterback. They may go the veteran route, though. But brining Mendoza back to Indiana will be tempting, surely. However, the Colts don’t have a first-round pick, so they would have to dig deep to get the Raiders interested in a deal.
Miami Dolphins:
The new-look Miami front office is expected to move on from Tua Tagovailoa. Mendoza is a Miami kid. They could swing big. Miami has the No. 11 pick in the first round. It wouldn’t shock me if they give the Raiders a call.
Minnesota Vikings:
The Vikings might cut bait on 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, but if they do, they might make it a soft move and bring in a veteran to compete with him.
New York Jets:
This is a team to watch. The Jets have the No. 2 overall pick and badly need a quarterback. They also have the No. 16 pick and two second-round picks. Plus, they have three first-round picks in 2027. If they Jets fall in with Mendoza, the Raiders might be able to get a huge haul to drop one pick.
Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Steelers might try to keep Aaron Rodgers for another year ore they could give second-year player Will Howard a shot. Could they try to swing a deal for Mendoza? I tend to think they may wait to a better quarterback draft class in 2027 before committing to a rookie.
Conclusion:
I expect the Raiders to draft Mendoza. But there may be some trade options if they want to explore that route.
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