The football world doesn’t stay still for long, if ever. So, while the Pittsburgh Steelers are busy celebrating their win over the Baltimore Ravens, along with the rest of the teams who made it into the playoffs, the Las Vegas Raiders, who had the worst record this season, are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft.
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The Raiders are on the clock with the first overall pick in this year’s draft. Now comes the big question: Who will the Raiders go for?
The New York Jets are eagerly waiting just behind the Raiders at No.2, and after them are the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans, all of whom finished the season with a 3-14 record.
The New York Giants round out the top five in the 2026 draft order, followed by the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders, who are at spots six and seven. From there, a trio of 6-11 teams, those being the New Orleans Saints, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Kansas City Chiefs, will close out the top 10 in that order.
Of course, each of those teams has its respective needs. But the 2025 Heisman trophy winner and quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers, Fernando Mendoza, is the current betting favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Yes, the Raiders need a long-term solution at the signal-calling position. Also, the first overall pick has been dominated by the quarterback position in recent times. Eight of the last 10 first overall draft picks have been quarterbacks, and the last three drafts have all seen a QB be selected first overall.
And with odds of -450, oddsmakers seem to be telling us that, barring any catastrophe, the trend of quarterbacks getting picked as No. 1 will continue in 2026.
Mendoza has the potential to be just what the Raiders need as well. He is a young, moldable product who stands in stark contrast to the 35-year-old, turnover-prone veteran, Geno Smith. Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers can serve as a solid foundation for any quarterback and in any offense. Also, with Tom Brady hanging around the building, there’s no better time to take a stab at potentially finding the next face of the franchise.
It’s been an incredibly long time since the Raiders fielded a starting quarterback that fans were legitimately excited about. And with Mendoza, they could finally experience a sense of optimism that hasn’t been felt in a decade.
Honestly, even at -450 odds, this one’s an absolute steal, as you can guarantee that the 22-year-old from Miami, Florida, is the first one to walk across the stage in 2026.
