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The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make Fernando Mendoza, the national championship-winning quarterback from Indiana, the first pick in next Thursday’s NFL Draft.
But that didn’t stop the Raiders’ underclassmen at No. 1 general in calling them about a possible trading situation.
Raiders GM John Spytek spoke during a pre-NFL Draft news conference, where he admitted he had received “a few phone calls” about his team’s first overall pick.
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Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek watches before the game against the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Nov. 23, 2025. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)
“Those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said, via ESPN.
Spytek said during the press conference that good trades can always happen on draft night, sometimes right before the pick. However, if a player stands out for the team, as Mendoza is believed to have done, the Raiders will decline the offer.
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“If there is a player who stands out and we feel that it is not worth losing, it is not even worth taking the phone, we will just choose,” added Spytek. “But if it’s a player we’re not happy with, or there’s a group of players we’d like to choose from, and we can get a price for that, we’re ready to listen to that.”
All signs point to Mendoza, who has cemented himself as the best linebacker in this draft after an undefeated season in Indiana. It also became clear that a quarterback was needed in Las Vegas after reaching an agreement with the New York Jets to reunite them with Geno Smith, who was their starter through 2025 following a previous deal with the Seattle Seahawks.
The Raiders, however, brought in Kirk Cousins after his release from the Atlanta Falcons, although his $20 million in guaranteed money of $172 million indicates that he will serve as a mentor to whoever the Raiders bring in a structure through the draft. Aidan O’Connell is also on the Raiders roster under new coach Klint Kubiak.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks to throw a pass during the NFL pro school day in Bloomington, Indiana, on April 1, 2026. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)
Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Seahawks, serving as their offensive coordinator before taking the offer following Pete Carroll’s one-year stint in Sin City. It didn’t go according to plan in Las Vegas, which resulted in the first overall pick.
But things are looking good for them, as Spytek used the team’s cap space to sign players like Tyler Linderbaum, cornerbacks Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, and wide receiver Jalen Nailor.
Now, Spytek and the franchise have their eyes set on developing the roster even more with potential cornerstone pieces for the NFL draft. The Raiders have 10 picks, including the first overall pick, the first time they’ve had that slot since 2007.
And those selected, if it’s Mendoza or someone else in the draft, will have to earn their roster spot and play time like everyone else in the league.
John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Conference in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 24, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
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“In the end, this is a democracy, and the best guy will play,” Spytek explained. “It’s really hard to play well when you’re young. But we’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks do it lately. We’ve added Kirk, we’ve got Aidan, and we’ll see how it goes.”
The NFL Draft begins with the Raiders on the clock next Thursday in Pittsburgh.
