The Las Vegas Raiders target offensive weapons in the 2026 Draft to empower future QB Fernando Mendoza and ignite their struggling offense.
The Las Vegas Raiders have probably already prepared their card to select Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
After that, the Raiders have lots of work to do. Free agency went well for Las Vegas by adding Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, and then adding some key pieces on the defense, including Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean.
The Raiders could start veteran Kirk Cousins at QB until Mendoza is ready, but the Hoosiers' star and Heisman Trophy winner is undoubtedly viewed as the franchise signal-caller for the foreseeable future.
Nick Shook of NFL.com named the biggest goal for every team in the NFL Draft, and for the Raiders, it is to add offensive weapons around Mendoza.
"Las Vegas made a good first effort by adding Jalen Nailor to one of the weakest receiving corps in the NFL but could use another more firepower. I'm also concerned about the Raiders' running back depth behind Ashton Jeanty," Shook wrote.
Jalen Nailor could be a steal in free agency, but he isn't a true WR1 that the Raiders need.
And, while Jeanty, the No. 6 overall pick from last year, is a star, the running back outside of Jeanty is not promising by any means.
Initially, mock drafts had the Raiders selecting a wide receiver, such as Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. at No. 14, but the failed Maxx Crosby trade with the Baltimore Ravens ended that dream.
ESPN's Matt Miller has the Raiders selecting Denzel Boston from Washington in the second round, and that seems like an ideal fit and landing spot for the Huskies star.
Some other WR options are Chris Bell from Louisville and Skyler Bell from UConn. Some later-round running back options include Seth McGowan from Kentucky, but it seems likely that the Raiders select a running back on Day rather than on the first two days, given there are other areas they need to address.
The Raiders' offense was not promising at all this past season. However, Geno Smith is now back with the New York Jets, Chip Kelly was fired, and former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is the new head coach, so those changes alone should already ignite the offense more.
Mendoza and Cousins are already a notable upgrade at the QB position, and if the Raiders can add some more talent with playmakers on offense, things could look even better for this group going into next season.