The Las Vegas Raiders are weighing their options for the No. 1 overall pick. With the 2026 NFL Draft still a few months away in April, trade rumors surrounding the team are already gaining traction.
On Jan. 20, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shared an NFL executive predictions piece, which included a projection from a personnel evaluator suggesting the Raiders could pursue Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“It just seems like there’s been some consternation there with Lamar and the Ravens, and this would be the ultimate Mark Davis move,” an NFL personnel evaluator said. “I’m not even convinced everybody with Vegas would be on board with it, but it would instantly solve their quarterback problems.”
Although the Raiders have looked for quick fixes at QB, such as trading for Geno Smith, Jackson is a two-time MVP and in the middle of his prime. Any move for the Ravens star would likely need to include the No. 1 pick, and while Fernando Mendoza is an intriguing prospect, FOX Sports Radio’s Rob Parker believes that the Silver and Black should consider such a move.
“[The Raiders] would get immediate respect [if they traded for Jackson] because they have a quarterback who has won, who wins 70 percent of their games, who always seems to be able to find a way,” Parker said on the Jan. 20 edition of “The Odd Couple with Rob Parker & Kelvin Washington.”
“We know things always seem to happen against Lamar. I’m not making excuses, but we’ve seen the drop passes, the fumbles, the missed kicks, and all those other things… I mean, the idea of having Lamar, wouldn’t you be willing to build around that?”
No. 1 Pick Worth More to Las Vegas Than Lamar Jackson
Any potential move for Jackson would likely involve the No. 1 pick, and former Raiders offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy noted that there’s no way he’s trading the top selection for the Baltimore standout.
“It’s hell to the nah,” Kennedy said on the Jan. 20 edition of the “Locked On Raiders” podcast. “The thing is that I’ve seen some good times out of Lamar Jackson, but I think he’s taken some hellacious hits over his career… I’ve seen Lamar Jackson take some hits, and I do think he’s past his prime in the sense [that] if you’re going to make a trade for him of this magnitude, you’re not going to get what you want on the other end.”
Lamar Jackson Wouldn’t Fit Raiders Window to Contend
Moreover, Kennedy noted that Jackson doesn’t fit the Raiders timeline as Las Vegas are currently in a rebuild and not a QB away from contention.
“You’ve got to have a system that’s conducive to someone like Jackson’s skill set, and that’s a big change for where the Raiders are right now,” Kennedy added. “… I would not even entertain this idea. I’m not trying to make it make light of the situation.
“I know the Raiders are in a position where they need help. Granted, and I’m saying Lamar Jackson is an MVP candidate and MVP player and has done that success, but hell to the nah. I do not make that trade.”
Raiders Get Compelling Words Amid Lamar Jackson Trade Rumor