The Raiders have run unto some unlucky drafts in recent years when it comes to the quarterback position, but the chips might have finally fallen in their favor this year.
A year ago, the Raiders were too far down in the draft to get Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart wasn’t considered by many to be worth a top 10 pick.
It was rumored that former GM Tom Telesco would have wanted to draft Dart, but with Tom Brady and John Spytek calling the shots, Dart wasn’t as high on the draft board.
The 2026 draft doesn’t appear to be loaded with elite quarterbacks, but Fernando Mendoza has elevated his stock in the last two months and will most likely be the first player taken – presumably by the Raiders.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore talked about Mendoza and Dante Moore this week and he believes both quarterbacks would have been drafted ahead of Ward if Ward was in this year’s draft.
“I think it would be Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore above Cam. They’re both better than Cam Ward. That’s without question,” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.
By the time the draft rolled around a year ago, Ward was the top quarterback on just about everyone’s draft board (except Mel Kiper), so it’s no small statement by Bonsignore to put Mendoza and Moore in a tier above Ward.
For what it’s worth, Moore has not yet announced his decision on the draft and could still return to Oregon in 2026.
If Moore returns to the college ranks, the value of the first pick will go up considerably and the Raiders could field a few trade offers for the right to draft Mendoza.
They probably wouldn’t trade the pick, but three additional first-round picks and Trinidad Chambliss wouldn’t be the worst way to kick off a rebuild.
x: @raidersbeat
Opinions are like a s s holes. Everyone has one.
DEJA VU OF TOM FLORES & JIM PLUNKETT TOO
Love “F.M.” for real, say it loud in stereo! He wears Tom Flores’ number and exactly like Jim Plunkett before him he won the Rose Bowl and the Heisman trophy.
“FM” is a winner and has IT, and so what is it? It is he is just a winner with all the intangibles, he simply elevates everyone around him as a leader and wins. Jim Plunkett was like this and he also won the California State High School Championship in 1967 and is the only QB I know who won two Super-bowls who is not in the Hall of fame? Jim was a winner at every level at the highest of levels. This is and will be “FM!”
What other team has had three Latino QB’s? It is a beautiful thing and the Raiders have never been a segregated team, we have always had a good mix of players. Yes, we want our Silver and our Black players together, because a good mix of players is a good healthy thing and has always been the make up of what Championship teams look like.
Viva Fernando Mendoza, our Cuban brother and Go Raiders!
West Side
RN
Since 1974
DEJA VU OF TOM FLORES & JIM PLUNKETT TOO
Love “F.M.” for real, say it loud in stereo! He wears Tom Flores’ number and exactly like Jim Plunkett before him he won the Rose Bowl and the Heisman trophy.
“FM” is a winner and has IT, and so what is it? It is he is just a winner with all the intangibles, he simply elevates everyone around him as a leader and wins. Jim Plunkett was like this and he also won the California State High School Championship in 1967 and is the only QB I know who won two Super-bowls who is not in the Hall of fame? Jim was a winner at every level at the highest of levels. This is and will be “FM!”
What other team has had three Latino QB’s? It is a beautiful thing and the Raiders have never been a segregated team, we have always had a good mix of players. Yes, we want our Silver and our Black players together, because a good mix of players is a good healthy thing and has always been the make up of what Championship teams look like.
Viva Fernando Mendoza, our Cuban brother and Go Raiders!
West Side
RN
Since 1974
I couldn’t agree more!
Here’s a suggestion; the Raiders trade the number 1 pick and Kolton Miller to Baltimore for the Ravens number 1 pick and Lamar Jackson.
Peach bowl? Put on a show?? 17 completions for 177??? TEN yards a pass average????
Check down Charley fails at the NFL level.
Of, and he’s a shotgun guy??????
FAIL