It’s an open secret at this point that the Las Vegas Raiders are set to pick Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Las Vegas is looking to draft a top-tier quarterback, and the best player in the class is also a quarterback. It’s a match made in heaven, and Vegas is already doing everything to prepare for the arrival of Mendoza.
However, that hasn’t stopped teams from trying to ask the Raiders about that first overall pick. There are still apparently teams that have inquired about what package will be enough to pry that coveted pick away from Las Vegas. Raiders GM John Spytek addressed these talks and more or less confirmed that they’ll be keeping their first-round pick.
“We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand right now,” Spytek said, per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“A lot less energy spent on hypotheticals,” Spytek added. “There’s only one team that can get the exact person they want and we have that option available to us if we so choose.”
The draft is often full of uncertainty for most teams… except for the one holding the first overall pick. Because of that, rebuilding teams highly value this pick. It allows them to either take the best player available in the draft, or, in other cases, use the first overall pick to snag a top player from a rebuilding team. In the Raiders’ case, it’s in their best interest to use the first overall pick to draft the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in Mendoza.
The Raiders have already done a lot of work to improve their roster. They’ve overhauled their offensive line, including signing All-Pro center Tyler Linderbaum to a massive deal. They added pieces to their defense. They’ve even signed a veteran backup quarterback to mentor Mendoza in Kirk Cousins.
All that’s left for the Raiders is to make the pick. Barring a truly gargantuan offer (that should include a quarterback), expect the first overall pick to stay in Las Vegas until draft night next week.
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