The Las Vegas Raiders appear to be zeroing in on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. That will solve the quarterback need, but the team has some other big needs on offense.
The Raiders are very limited at wide receiver right now. Tre Tucker had a decent season, but he’s likely a No. 3 option, at best. Rookies Dont’e Thornton and Jack Bech didn’t show enough promise to suggest that they can be dependable players.
The Raiders could target the position with their second-round pick, but that doesn’t guarantee the team anything. If they really want to set Mendoza up for success, giving him a true No.1 wide receiver would go a long way.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, people around the NFL think that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown will get traded this offseason. He noted that scouts see the Raiders as one of the potential fits.
“Brown’s happy-to-be-here quotient in Philly is miserably low. He’s a great player and great players are hard to replace,” Fowler wrote. “But the Eagles have never been scared to make a move due to the salary cap implications. The Eagles actually can save $7 million on the cap by trading Brown after June 1.
“And it feels like it’s time. Some league execs have felt that way since October.”
Brown Would Give Raiders an Elite Weapon
Brown is widely considered one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, but there’s a perception that he’s unhappy in Philadelphia. During his first two seasons with the Eagles, he had 2,952 receiving yards combined. The last two seasons, he’s had 2,082 receiving yards combined.
Many believe that his skillset is being wasted on an Eagles team that would prefer to run the ball. The team also has another very good wide receiver in DeVonta Smith, which makes Brown a bit more expendable.
The Raiders don’t have a coach yet, so it’s difficult to know what to expect from their offense. That said, Mendoza is a quarterback who is going to want to push the ball downfield. He also has a lot of confidence in his receivers. Having Brown and star tight end Brock Bowers on the field at the same time would give Mendoza two elite weapons to work with. In this scenario, the Raiders could end up having the most improved offense in the NFL next season.
Raiders Could Be Wary of Trading for Star WR
The biggest red flag with a possible Brown trade is the Raiders’ recent history of trading for disgruntled star wide receivers. The team previously traded for Antonio Brown, who never played a snap for Las Vegas before getting cut.
Later, the Raiders traded for Davante Adams, who couldn’t even get through Year 3 of his contract before asking out. Trading for a star wide receiver always comes with a level of risk. Brown is a very good player, but the fact that the Raiders will have a rookie quarterback and might not be very good in 2026 could lead to some drama.
NFL Scouts Believe Raiders Could Swing Blockbuster Trade for 3-Time All-Pro WR