The Las Vegas Raiders have the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and they should use it on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders have a chance to solve their long-standing quarterback problem by selecting Mendoza, who led Indiana to the Peach Bowl playoff semifinal. Trading down for more picks is risky because the Raiders cannot guarantee they will be able to draft a top quarterback next year.
In the 2024 draft, the Raiders tried to trade up for Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, or Drake Maye, but the teams ahead of them also needed quarterbacks. This year, the Raiders control their own destiny. They do not have to worry about another team jumping ahead of them.
Offensive line concerns
Some argue the Raiders should build their offensive line before drafting a quarterback. But the Chicago Bears had a poor offensive line when they drafted Caleb Williams, and he was sacked 68 times as a rookie. Williams and the Patriots’ Drake Maye both improved in their second seasons and led their teams to the playoffs. The Raiders should not pass on a franchise quarterback because of short-term concerns.
If the Raiders believe Mendoza is the guy, they should keep the pick and draft him.
