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The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s national championship-winning quarterback, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft next Thursday.
But that hasn’t stopped teams below the Raiders at No. 1 overall from ringing their phones about a potential trade scenario.
Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke during a press conference ahead of the NFL Draft, during which he admitted to having received “some calls” about the first overall pick his team owns.
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Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek watches before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Nov. 23, 2025. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
“Those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said, via ESPN.
Spytek said during the press conference that good trades can always materialize on draft night, sometimes even right before the pick. However, if a player stands out for the team, as Mendoza is believed to have done, the Raiders will decline an offer.
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“If there’s a player that stands out and we think he’s not worth losing, not even worth picking up the phone, then we’ll just pick,” Spytek added. “But if it’s a player we’re not that excited about, or there’s a group of players we’d love to pick from, and we can get value for that, we’re certainly open to hearing that.”
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 reaching a deal with the New York Jets to reunite them with Geno Smith, who was their starter in 2025 after an earlier deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Raiders, however, brought in Kirk Cousins after his departure from the Atlanta Falcons, although his $20 million in guaranteed money in a whopping $172 million deal indicates he will serve as a mentor to whoever the Raiders bring into the building during 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, on April 1, 2026. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)
Kubiak just won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks and served as their offensive coordinator before accepting this promotion following a one-year stint under Pete Carroll in Sin City. Things didn’t go as planned in Las Vegas, resulting in the first overall pick.
But things are looking up for the silver and black, as Spytek used the team’s ample free agent cap space 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 have their eyes set on further improving the roster with potential cornerstone pieces during the NFL Draft. The Raiders own 10 total picks, including the first overall pick, which is the first time they have held 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 roster and 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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“Ultimately, this is a meritocracy and the best will play,” Spytek explained. “It’s really hard to play really well at a young age. But we’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we got Aidan and we’ll see how it goes.”
The NFL Draft begins with the Raiders on the clock next Thursday in Pittsburgh.
