The Las Vegas Raiders weren’t able to fill every need in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they did find their quarterback. No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza should be the team’s starting quarterback for at least the next decade if everything goes right.
If he does live up to his draft status, the Raiders are going to be very good very quickly. That said, they likely need at least one more offseason before they could be considered contenders.
One area the team didn’t address enough in the draft was wide receiver. They were heavily linked to the position ahead of the draft, and many expected them to use the second-round pick to take a wide receiver.
Instead, they took a safety. Wide receiver wasn’t addressed until Round 6. Luckily, the Raiders could have the chance to upgrade the position in a major way next year. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is expected to be one of the best wide receiver prospects to come out of college in years.
With the Raiders’ rookie minicamp ended, Mendoza went back to Miami to continue training on his own. Notably, he was seen working out with Smith, who also lives in Miami during the offseason.
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza worked out with Jeremiah Smith at @SlyJohnson3. Both are Miami natives.
Naturally, this led to many comments about them being future teammates next season. A lot of things have to happen for the Raiders to be in a position to draft Smith, but pairing him with Mendoza, Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty next year would give the team one of the most exciting young cores of offensive players in the NFL.
Raiders Projected to Select Smith in 2027
It’s far too early to take any 2027 mock drafts seriously, but they do help give an idea of what prospects fans should be watching for their team. Fortunately for the Raiders, there could be a run on quarterbacks.
That could lead to Smith falling down the board. In Brent Sobleski’s 2027 mock draft for Bleacher Report, he projects Las Vegas to take Smith with the No. 6 pick.
“Smith is everything the NFL wants in a truly special pass-catcher. He has the requisite speed, acceleration, route running/separation, strength, football IQ and ball skills,” Sobleski wrote. “The 20-year-old is a franchise-changing talent listed at 6’3” and 223 pounds, with 4.4 speed. He is nightmare fuel for defensive coordinators and anyone tasked with facing him in one-on-one coverage.
“The Las Vegas Raiders chose Fernando Mendoza with this year’s first overall pick. The plan is to hand him the keys in 2027 if everything with Kirk Cousins goes to plan. Smith’s addition alongside Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and Mendoza instantly makes the Raiders’ offense an explosive unit to reckon with. It’s the best-case scenario to maximize Mendoza’s development.”
Will Raiders Have Top 10 Pick?
A potential problem for the Raiders is that they may have done too much to improve to guarantee a top-10 pick next year. Klint Kubiak should be an upgrade at head coach, Tyler Linderbaum could change the offensive line and if Mendoza is good as a rookie, the team could win a lot of games.
It’s also easy to see the Raiders only winning five or six games, but being scrappy. For their long-term future, that might actually be what’s best for the franchise.
Fernando Mendoza Turns Heads in Workout With Possible Future Raiders Teammate