Las Vegas Raiders Provide Clarity On Quarterback Situation Heading Into 2026 NFL Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders have been a quarterback graveyard for years. And after a 2025 season that looked like a bad NFL Films documentary, nobody is blaming Raider Nation for being anxious about what comes next.
The Raiders averaged a league-worst 14.2 points per game last season. They tied for the worst record in football with just three wins. The silver lining? That catastrophic collapse handed them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Most fans have already penciled in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as the answer. And honestly, it’s hard to argue. He won the Heisman, led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season, and delivered Indiana its first-ever national championship. But here’s where things get interesting.
Klint Kubiak Isn’t Ready to Hand Mendoza the Keys Just Yet
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, new Raiders Head Coach Klint Kubiak did what coaches do best. He said a whole lot without actually saying anything.
“(We’re) looking at all options right now,” Kubiak told reporter Taylor Rocha. “Watching Geno play last year, (I’m) obviously pretty familiar with what he had done before; putting all on the table right now, trying to see every possible avenue we can go next year at quarterback, and he’s definitely one of those options.”
To be fair to Kubiak, he’s not wrong to pump the brakes. General Manager John Spytek has also hinted that he’s not exactly in love with the idea of throwing a rookie quarterback into the fire on Day 1. “I think you want to limit the amount of pressure you have on that guy from the start,” Spytek said. “I’m not necessarily in favor of running him out there right away.”
That’s a reasonable stance. The Raiders’ offensive line isn’t exactly inspiring confidence, and nobody wants to ruin a franchise quarterback before he’s thrown his first NFL pass.
So Who Actually Starts Week 1?
Here’s where it gets messy. Geno Smith had a rough 2025 — 17 interceptions, missing two games, and a performance that made fans question everything. But he’s still under contract through 2027 at $26.5 million per year, which makes cutting him a painful financial decision.
Insider Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post was blunt about it: “It’s not going to be Geno.” His prediction? Aidan O’Connell slides in as a bridge starter while Mendoza develops.
O’Connell never got a real shot last season, which still stings a little. When he was healthy, the coaching staff kept him glued to the bench. He’s capable. He’s steady. And he’s exactly the kind of veteran presence that won’t embarrass the organization while Mendoza learns the playbook.
The Problem With Sitting Mendoza
Here’s the thing nobody wants to say out loud: keeping Mendoza on the bench for an entire season is going to be nearly impossible.
Raiders fans have been through too much heartbreak. The moment Mendoza is on that roster, the crowd is going to want to see him play. Fan pressure is real. It moves the needle. And when the offense stalls in Week 4, the chants for Mendoza will be loud enough to rattle the windows at Allegiant Stadium.
Mendoza Is the Future
Whether Mendoza starts Week 1 or gets a few games to settle in, one thing seems clear: he’s going to play in 2026. The Raiders have pieces in place, Ashton Jeanty in the backfield, Brock Bowers as one of the most talented tight ends in the league, to make life easier for a young quarterback.
But the offensive line needs work. Handing a rookie a leaky pocket and no protection isn’t a development plan — it’s a demolition job. Kubiak keeping his options open isn’t panic. It’s process. The Raiders aren’t just picking a quarterback — they’re picking the direction of a franchise. And for a team that’s been lost in the desert for years, getting that decision right matters more than getting it fast.
