The Raiders are on track for the no. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft and if they lose their final three games of the season, they will most likely have the no. 1 pick.
The Raiders “control their own destiny” in the draft and the no. 1 pick could be a big prize this year with Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza expected to be the top quarterback commodity – and maybe the only quarterback commodity.
With the no. 1 pick, the Raiders could draft Mendoza or if they aren’t sold on Mendoza as a prospect, the trade value involved with the no. 1 pick will probably be significant.
This week, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore talked about the importance of getting the no. 1 pick in this year’s draft and he believes there are two teams to watch for a potential trade to the top of the draft.
“The LA Rams, who we’ve talked about, they have the Atlanta Falcons’ first pick, which right now, or going into last week, it was [the] ninth [pick],” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.
“It’s a high pick, plus their own pick, and Les Snead, their general manager, has never shown any aversion to trading away future first picks,” Bonsignore continued. “They’ve got to figure out what they’re going to do post Matthew Stafford, because the thing about that is, they’ve got a really good young roster outside of their quarterbacks.”
“Their oldest player, Davante Adams is getting up there in age, as well, but otherwise, it’s a fairly young roster. They need to go get a quarterback that can fill in post Matthew Stafford, and it feels like this could be the time where they make a move up. Or the New York Jets, maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well. So I do think that there would be teams possibly that would be interested in that pick, and… they need to be open to that.”
In theory, a trade to the top of the draft would net at least 2-3 premium picks, particularly with the quarterback market expected to be thin after Mendoza.
There has been talk of Oregon’s Dante Moore being alongside Mendoza as one of the top quarterback prospects, but it has been rumored that he plans to return to Oregon in 2026.
Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter talked about that situation on Tuesday…
“I’m going to tell you, I spoke to someone today [who is] absolutely involved. I’m not going to say if it was player or Oregon teammate, but I’m going to tell you someone directly involved in the process that told me, quote, ‘I don’t think there is a snowball’s chance in hell Dante comes out this year. I believe unequivocally, he will be back in Oregon,'” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“So, that may be some news that they do not believe Dante will be out in the draft this year. That Oregon, with their NIL situation, are going to be able to pay him relatively close, if not a little bit more than he would make in the NFL draft. I think he’s out of the mix.”
If Moore returns to Oregon, the no. 1 pick in the 2026 draft could have as much trade value as any in recent years.
With three games to go, the Raiders, Giants and Titans are the only teams with just two wins.
The Giants and Raiders play at Allegiant Stadium in two weeks, and the Titans close out the season with the Chiefs, Saints and Jaguars.
As of Wednesday, here is the latest draft breakdown via Tankathon…
x: @raidersbeat
That’s a good idea except for one thing. Who’s the qb next year? And don’t even mention it, it’s not going to be AOC. Cam Miller out played him during preseason. How about trading Max Crosby. That should be 2-3 premium picks. We’re not winning with Crosby, and we’re 5-6 years. Away on a rebuild.
Maxx deserves a Super Bowl chance. I’d trade him to the Bills
If the team says Donte Moore is the best or neither is worth it I’m ok with trading down and getting multiple 1’s for next year when(allegedly) the QB draft is supposed to be deeper/better.
Having said that Hondo is a moron. Vinny has said he’s heard Moore is coming out. I know Vinny is a simp for Mark/Brady but as Vinny says it makes more sense for him to come out now when his stock is highest & he doesn’t have to compete with those guys next year. Plus, he hits he’s a year closer to his next contract. That blows away NIL money.
Hondo is too dumb to realize that.
If we’re #1 we gotta take Mendoza, this retread QB sh*t has gone on far too long.
The problem with picking a QB with 1st overall is, you have to know for sure he’s going to hit. If you take a QB at 1 overall and he flops, that sets you back another half a decade or more.
JaMarcus Russell? Remember him?
How many of us Raiders fans want to go through that again?
If we get the 1st overall, I would offer it to Cincinnati for Joe Burrow straight up. Then focus in the O line with the rest of the draft.
I like what you had to say, but some point you have to take a risk. Burrows wants to leave the Bengals because they’re not contenders. The Raiders unfortunately are worse than the Bengals.
Thanks bro. To your point though, Burrow isn’t a free agent. He has no say in where he gets traded to.
So if he wants to go a contender my question to him would be how does it feel to want?
You are correct. I didn’t realize he was still under contract. My worry would be if they trade him Burrows would not show up, and or threaten to retire to next the deal.
It’s only true that the Raiders whiffed on Jamarcus Russell and it did set back the team for a dramatically long time. It’s not correct to assume that it happens to every team, Mr. Davis was paranoid about young QBs, always wanted to resurrect someone, and he did it twice. Blanda & Plunkett. Many teams have missed and connected in another couple of years. The latest being the Patriots missed on Mac Jones in 21, picked Maye in 24, looks like an MVP finalist this year. The Raiders have done a poor job of drafting QBs in the last few decades, really only Carr was a hit. They seem to think they know something that other teams missed and reach for these guys, just like last year. You must have a QB, if it ain’t working in a couple of years, do it again. I would draft one every year if you don’t have your guy, and every other year if I had solid starter. It’s not like the old days you cannot win with a average joe
Sorry, it was 3 times, I forgot Rich Gannon. apologies
We need the first pick none of these other teams deal with the raiders unless they absolutely have to!