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The Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock.
A loss would have assured the Raiders the first overall pick in April, but they didn’t have to wait for their own game to begin to learn their fate.
The New York Giants had a chance to land the No. 1 pick, a pick they controlled heading into their matchup against the Raiders last week.
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A field general view shows the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders in the first quarter of their game at Allegiant Stadium on October 15, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
However, the Giants beat the Raiders and lost control of the selection to Las Vegas. New York needed a loss and a Raiders win to regain the top pick, but the Giants beat the Dallas Cowboys, 34-17, giving the pick to the Raiders.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely assumed to be a Raider. Las Vegas acquired veteran quarterback Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason, but in the midst of a terrible season for the Raiders, Smith was a disappointment. Entering Sunday, he had thrown for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns against 17 interceptions in 15 games.
Geno Smith of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts in the game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium on November 23, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
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Smith, 35, has two years left on his contract, but it’s hard to imagine the Raiders passing up the Heisman Trophy winner, who could complete a perfect season with a national championship.
The Raiders (2-14) will face the Kansas City Chiefs to finish their regular season. The last time the Raiders had the No. 1 pick was in 2007, when they selected LSU’s JaMarcus Russell. Russell became one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, playing in 31 games, the last coming in 2009.
Perhaps Indiana’s quarterback could have a better outcome.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws before an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Meanwhile, the Giants could fall as low as the seventh pick with their 4-13 record, depending on how the 4:25 p.m. games play out.
