Fernando Mendoza on the New York Jets would be fun to watch.
The Las Vegas Raiders have the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are expected to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
No one expects the Raiders to trade the first pick since they need a QB and Mendoza could be a generational talent.
However, what if the Raiders receive a monster offer for the first pick? Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report proposed that the New York Jets, who have the second pick, offer the following trade package to Las Vegas for the first pick:
New York Jets Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (1.01)
Las Vegas Raiders Receive: 2026 Round 1 Pick (1.02), 2026 Round 2 Pick (2.12), 2027 Round 1 Pick, 2027 Round 2 Pick
"For the Raiders to actually consider dealing the Mendoza pick (which is hopefully much better than the Mendoza Line), two things will have to happen," Davenport wrote. "The first is that the Raiders cool on the NFL prospects of the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner. The second is the sort of Godfather offer that would be hard to pass up.
"The Raiders have more needs than just at the quarterback position. With multiple first- and second-round picks over the next two seasons, the New York Jets have the draft capital to make this kind of blockbuster offer without completely mortgaging the future. And if there is one team in the NFL that might be even more desperate for some measure of optimism under center than the Raiders, it's the Jets. Of course, dealing the first overall pick to the Jets wouldn't solve the quarterback conundrum in Sin City."
Mendoza led Indiana to the National Championship this past season. He also won the Heisman Trophy. The talented QB finished with 3,535 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns and only six interceptions.
The Jets' offense was a walking disaster in 2025. They were 29th in the NFL in points per game and 32nd in passing yards.
New York's new OC is Frank Reich. Tanner Engstrand was fired after one season. The Jets went 3-14 in 2025 in Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn era and started three QBs: Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor and Brady Cook. The three QBs combined for 2,777 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes.
The odds of the Raiders trading the first pick are very, very low. However, you can never say never in sports.
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