The Las Vegas Raiders have the No. 1 pick and will need to do their homework on which player they want to take as a potential building block for their franchise. All signs point to the Silver and Black taking a quarterback, and the likely choice is Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza.
However, former NFL QB Brady Quinn warns the Raiders that Mendoza shouldn’t be a slam-dunk decision as some might make it seem. On the Jan. 9 edition of “The Dan Patrick Show,” Quinn noted that if he were in charge of Las Vegas, he would be taking Oregon Ducks QB Dante Moore, who has yet to declare for this year’s draft.
“Kirk Cousins is kind of who I’m watching and see in regards to motion,” Quinn said about Mendoza. “… If Dante Moore comes out, I’m not so sure he’s not going to be the No. 1 overall pick. There’s a real argument to be made in his upside, his skill set. He to me, if he came out, would be the purest passer, meaning when you watch him, he’s got a stronger arm.
“He layers throws better. I know he’s not as experienced, and obviously, you know, he’s not the Heisman Trophy winner, and Fernando’s had a tremendous year. I’m not taking anything away from that.
“When I watch the tape of these guys, and you’re watching the different throws that they’re making, I sit there and look at Dante Moore. I said, ‘Yeah, that’s the guy I probably feel like has the higher upside and even some of the stuff he does off schedule even.'”
Is Dante Moore the Obvious Choice for the Raiders?
Moreover, Quinn notes that unless Moore decides to return to Oregon for another season, Mendoza has the top spot. However, if Moore does decide to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, then he would lean towards the Ducks star over the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
“The difference for me again is just I think Dante’s got a little bigger arm,” Quinn added. “He can create a little bit more. He’s less experienced and obviously doesn’t have the same type of tape. [But] it’s just effortless when you watch him [and] the way he throws the football. The one concern I have for Fernando is that they run a bit more of a heavier RPO offense, and that doesn’t translate quite as well to the next level.
“We always talk about the progressive quarterbacks reading defenses and understanding what they’re trying to take away. You see a little more NFL throws, more of an NFL style offense from what Dante is asked to do in Oregon as opposed to maybe what you’re seeing from Fernando at IU.”
Raiders Could Have Exciting Young Core
Regardless of whether it’s Moore or Mendoza, one unnamed NFL assistant general manager believes Las Vegas could have young building blocks as part of this rebuild.
“Would love to see [Mendoza] in Vegas,” the anonymous assistant general manager told NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who published the quote on X on Jan. 2. “[Brock] Bowers [and] [Ashton] Jeanty are a great young supporting cast, and the big thing for me is what they do with coaching. Find the right young offensive-minded HC and that’s a team that has a foundation.”
Raiders Get Blunt Message on Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore