After Thursday’s college football showcase, it’s looking like there will be at least one elite-caliber quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has won over the country in the last two months and seems to have every tool necessary to become a top quarterback at the next level.
What that means is the no. 1 pick will come with real value this year, and no team needs a solution at quarterback more than the Raiders, who currently have the inside track to the first pick.
With a loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, the Raiders will secure the no. 1 pick in April’s draft, but according to Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter, the Chiefs aren’t expected to make losing easy for the Raiders in the season finale.
“Here’s the situation… I was talking to someone last night. The Chiefs are going to do everything to make sure the Raiders don’t get the number one overall pick,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“I think the Raiders are going to do everything to make sure that they get the number one overall pick.”
For what it’s worth, it’s possible the Raiders will have secured the no. 1 pick by the time they take the field on Sunday.
Even with a win over the Chiefs, the first pick in the draft will go to Las Vegas if the Giants beat the Cowboys or the Giants lose and the Seahawks, Browns, Falcons and Bears combine for three losses.
Among that group, only the Browns (+7.5) are underdogs, but the Seahawks (-1.5) face a tough 49ers team on the road, and the Falcons (-3.5) play the Saints, who have won four consecutive games. The Bears (-3) are favored to beat the Lions, but the Lions should be motivated by the opportunity to face Ben Johnson.
Safe to say, if Pete Carroll and company find a way to lose the no. 1 pick on Sunday, it would be arguably the most disappointing win in franchise history.
x: @raidersbeat
Ok, so what if we watch the game & the chief’s come out & play as if this was the last game they’re playing with job implications on the line? So if you put out bad tape another team may not want you on their roster b’cuz you “gave up” in this game like a quitter you must know that these guy’s aren’t garunteed another contract nor to leave the game healthy so playing to lose is not likely nor realistic you can’t believe everything you hear but you can put yourself in the shoes of the team & think what would give you more satisfaction as an opponent, beating this team or losing to them on purpose?
So, the last 30 year’s or so had made me very confident that the Raiders would find a way to win a meaningless game or two down the stretch and cost themselves a to pick. I was sure of it. Then I watched them appear to try their best and lose 34-10 to a 2-3 Giants team at home, and I realized that even if Pete is in full compete mode and the Chiefs pull out all the stops to lose
… The Raiders might be so bad that it doesn’t matter anyway. I hope so. If they win, Carroll needs to be run out of town on a rail.
KC is not going to lose purpose.🙄 If ever proven either team was trying to lose on purpose. The NFL commissioners office would fine the team, and take away draft picks.
KC is also not going to worry about the Raiders picking 1st. No matter who they draft that player will not be good right away. Also even if the Raiders win they won’t fall out of top 2 or 3. Don’t try to stir up drama where there is none.
That’s true but they will loose to the chefs best thing we need to play our rookies to c if we need them nt year
Carpenter is a joke, and my guess is he probably gets jollies from reading the comments on this blog. It’s Travis Kelce’s last game, Andy is going to feed him. We will play a soft zone, and are not going to cover the middle of the field, because we seldom do. Two starting safeties are out.
Some enjoy him and u using the handle too is something a looser wood do you have no rt to do so