Mendoza needs weapons. Discover three impact receivers who can transform the Raiders' offense and boost their rookie quarterback's debut in 2026.
The Las Vegas Raiders have tons of room to improve on the offensive side of the ball, as evidenced by their three wins in 2025. With the first overall selection in their hands, the Raiders are going to add National Champion-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, barring any crazy changes in the coming months.
That settles the issues at quarterback for Las Vegas, who desperately need a change from Geno Smith after just one season in which he led the league in interceptions. With Mendoza coming in, the Raiders need to surround him with weapons this offseason.
Las Vegas has sufficient funds to do so this offseason, with nearly $90 million available to spend this offseason. If the Raiders want to get their rebuild off to an ideal start, they need to add talent in the receiving room. Here are three receivers that Las Vegas needs to pursue ahead of the 2026 season.
Alec Pierce earned his first season of 1,000 receiving yards in 2025 with the Indianapolis Colts. It was enough to lead the Colts in the category, doing so on only 47 receptions. His 21.3 yards per reception last season led the league.
The deep ball was pretty much nonexistent for the Raiders last season. At six foot three inches, Pierce would come in and immediately change that narrative for the Raiders. Still just 25 years old, pairing Mendoza with a physical threat like Pierce would certainly make the rookie's job easier as he settles into the NFL.
George Pickens had a career season in his lone year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. He racked up over 1,400 yards and scored nine times on 93 catches. Each of those numbers is a career high for Pickens, who is still just 24 years old. Perhaps Las Vegas isn’t an ideal fit for a receiver like Pickens, who has a history of rebelling, but his impact on the field cannot be denied.
Juan Jennings saw a decrease in his yardage in 2025, 643, but he was still a key part of the San Francisco 49ers’ offense last season. It was still enough to lead receivers on the team, as running back Christian McCaffrey ended up leading with 924 receiving yards. He won’t be as pricey as Pickens or Pierce, but he would add some much-needed depth to an uninspiring receiving room in Las Vegas.