Week 14 might have ended in a loss for the Las Vegas Raiders, but in many ways, they were big winners from the weekend. While the Raiders won, the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints won.
According to Tankathon, which moved the Raiders from No. 4 in the projected draft order to No. 2. If that draft order holds, the team will be in a prime position to address a major need. Many would like to see the team focus on building out the roster before going after a quarterback.
There are some elite defensive prospects at the top of the draft, but the Raiders aren’t winning anything until they find a franchise quarterback. There’s some debate about whether or not there’s a quarterback worthy of a top-five selection in the 2026 class.
Oregon’s Dante Moore is one of the most hype prospects. Amid the draft order shake-up, Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus put together a mock draft. He sees the Raiders taking Moore with the No. 2 pick.
“Las Vegas must find a new quarterback option for 2026, whether Geno Smith is on the roster or not,” Sikkema wrote. “Moore’s accuracy and ball placement have been outstanding for a quarterback in his first year as a full-time starter. He’s young and very promising, and with the Raiders now sitting at No. 2, they have a legitimate shot at landing him.”
Mel Kiper Jr. Has Moore as QB1
In Sikkema’s mock draft, he has Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza getting picked at No. 1. However, there’s bound to be a lot of debate about who actually deserves the top spot.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. believes that Moore is the best quarterback in the 2026 class.
“Moore is a third-year sophomore with some impressive traits,” Kiper wrote. “His accuracy has been solid all season, and he shows good touch on his deep ball. Moore can throw from different arm angles with precision and delivers strikes while rolling either left or right out of the pocket. He can scramble a bit too.
“Moore started five games at UCLA in 2023 before sitting behind Dillon Gabriel in 2024, so he has only 16 career starts to date. Moore is still developing and will be only 20 years old at draft time. But the toolbox is loaded, and he plays with true command of the Ducks’ offense. I see a lot of confidence in Moore’s game; nothing ever seems to faze him.”
Raiders Should Consider Waiting Until 2027
It’s very rare for teams to get the No. 1 pick in the draft. The New York Giants are the only team ahead of the Raiders in the projected draft order, but the two teams play in Week 17.
That means Las Vegas has a real chance to get the top pick. It would be the first time they’ve had it since 2007. Having the top pick is usually the perfect time to get a quarterback, but there are just so many question marks with Mendoza and Moore. Do either of them have the traits to warrant the top pick?
The Tennessee Titans took a chance on Cam Ward at No. 1 this year, and they’d likely redo that in hindsight. Unless the Raiders truly feel like Moore or Mendoza can be a difference maker, they have to consider waiting until 2027 to address the quarterback need.
Raiders Predicted to Add ‘Outstanding’ QB Following Draft Order Shake Up