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The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s national championship-winning quarterback, the No. 1 pick in next Thursday’s NFL draft.
But that hasn’t stopped teams below the No. 1 overall Raiders from calling their phones about a possible trade scenario.
Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke at a pre-NFL draft press conference, during which he admitted to receiving “a few calls” about his team’s first overall selection.
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General manager John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on November 23, 2025. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
“These teams know where they stand,” Spytek said via ESPN.
Spytek said during the press conference that good trades can still materialize on draft night, sometimes even right before the pick. However, if a player stands out from the team, as Mendoza reportedly did, the Raiders will decline an offer.
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“If there’s a player that stands out and we think it’s not worth losing, it’s not even worth picking up the phone, then we’ll just make a choice,” Spytek added. “But if it’s a player we’re not as excited about, or if there’s a group of players we’d like to choose from, and we can take advantage of that, we’re certainly open to listening.”
All signs point to Mendoza, who has established himself as the best quarterback in this draft after an undefeated season at Indiana. It also became more apparent that a quarterback was needed for Las Vegas after striking a deal with the New York Jets to reunite them with Geno Smith, who was their starter in 2025 following an earlier deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Raiders, however, brought in Kirk Cousins after his release from the Atlanta Falcons, although his $20 million guaranteed on a whopping $172 million contract indicates he will serve as a mentor to whoever the Raiders bring into the building in the draft. Aidan O’Connell is also on the Raiders’ roster under new head coach Klint Kubiak.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to throw a pass during the school’s NFL pro day in Bloomington, Indiana, April 1, 2026. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)
Kubiak is coming off a Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks, serving as offensive coordinator before taking that promotion after a one-year stint under Pete Carroll in Sin City. It didn’t go as planned for Las Vegas, resulting in the first overall selection.
But things are looking up for the silver and black, as Spytek used the team’s expansive free agent draft room to sign players like center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker and wide receiver Jalen Nailor, among others.
Now, Spytek and the franchise aim to further improve the roster with potential centerpieces via the NFL Draft. The Raiders own 10 picks overall, including the No. 1 overall selection, which is the first time they have had that spot since 2007.
And those picks, whether it’s Mendoza or anyone else in the draft, will have to earn their spot on the team and their playing time like everyone else in the league.
John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 24, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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“At the end of the day, it’s a meritocracy, and the best will play out,” Spytek explained. “It’s really hard to play well at a young age. But we’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we have Aidan, and we’ll see how it goes.”
The NFL Draft begins with the Raiders on the clock next Thursday in Pittsburgh.
