The Las Vegas Raiders have their head coach after the news that Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is planning to accept the job. That was the biggest decision the team needed to make this offseason, but now they can turn their eyes toward free agency and the draft.
Kubiak likely doesn’t take the job if the Raiders didn’t tell him the plan is to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick. He’s the top quarterback in the class and the only one worth taking at the top.
Mendoza should feel a lot better about possibly going to the Raiders now that Kubiak is planning to be the head coach. His offense is a strong fit with the quarterback’s skillset.
However, moving to Las Vegas could be a big culture shock for Mendoza. The quarterback admitted that he’s never actually been to Sin City before.
“Never,” Mendoza said on “Sundae Conversation” when asked if he’s ever visited Las Vegas. “I’ve never been to Las Vegas.”
Now, Mendoza was raised in Miami, Florida, so he knows what it’s like to live in a big city that’s known for partying. Las Vegas shouldn’t feel too foreign to him, but it should be an interesting experience for the quarterback.
New Era for Raiders Offense
The Raiders had the worst offense in the NFL in 2025. That was with the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league, an expensive quarterback and a running back drafted in the top 10.
The Raiders didn’t have the personnel to have an elite offense, but they should’ve been better than the worst. The good news for Kubiak is that he has pieces to work with. Mendoza has a chance to be a solid starting quarterback as a rookie. Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers are elite weapons to work with.
Kubiak playcalling has been very impressive during the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run, so he should be able to cook up a good offense with these pieces. If the Raiders can upgrade the offensive line in free agency, they could have the most improved offense in the NFL next season.
Mike Macdonald Calls Kubiak a Team Player
This was the first year Kubiak was considered among the top head coaching candidates. He hasn’t had a chance to stick with a team for a long time, but he’s made a strong impression on Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald.
He had some high praise for the coach before he got hired by the Raiders.
“The thing I appreciate most about Klint is he’s a team player,” Macdonald said, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It’s always what’s best for the team all the time and he takes a lot of pride in it being a team effort. He’s the first to say the rest of the staff does a great job and the players make it come to life. So, I think there’s a humility behind how he operates, creates an environment where you’re getting all those positive aspects for everybody involved.”
It sounds like Kubiak will foster a collaborative environment in Las Vegas.
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