The Las Vegas Raiders are building the team around No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza but he doesn't have a star wide receiver yet.
The Las Vegas Raiders have entered a proper rebuild after numerous failed attempts to compete with an unfinished roster.
Finishing 3-14 and securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 National Football League draft was the final straw for Raiders ownership, and the organization cleaned house, shipping out veteran players as well as most of the coaching staff.
Las Vegas had a fantastic offseason, bringing in a new head coach (Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak), signing multiple big name free agents and drafting Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza following a perfect season that culminated in the Hoosiers’ first national championship.
A team that had no real direction for years finally has a direction. The Raiders already had a few star-caliber players in tight end Brock Bowers, defensive end Maxx Crosby and running back Ashton Jeanty to build around but adding a franchise QB was next on the list and Mendoza looks the part through training camp.
He may have struggled a bit in his second preseason appearance this past week, but he has the tools to be a great QB for years to come in Las Vegas. He could use some more help in the form of a pass-catcher, though, and adding an elite wide receiver would set him up for more success.
Having Bowers is pretty much like having a star WR1, but the receiver room is lacking premier talent and that could hurt the team in the future if Bowers is drawing double-teams.
While I project that the Raiders will surprise many with a solid season, plenty of analysts still aren’t high on Las Vegas just yet, and they are projected to have another top 10 pick in the 2027 draft.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid released his way-too-early first-round mock for next year and has the Raiders selecting Texas WR Cam Coleman with the fifth pick.
“The Raiders got their QB1 in April when they picked Fernando Mendoza; now they get their true WR1,” Reid wrote Wednesday. “Coleman is a sleek-built pass catcher who can make acrobatic receptions look routine with his outstanding catch radius.
“He transferred from Auburn to Texas, and this upcoming season could see his production explode as Arch Manning's featured option. Coleman can run every route on the route tree, so having him join 2024 first-rounder Brock Bowers and 2025 first-rounder Ashton Jeanty would give Las Vegas a formidable core around Mendoza.”
Coleman was the top guy at Auburn in 2025, catching 56 passes (second on team) for 708 yards (first) and five touchdowns (first) while averaging 12.6 yards per reception. Entering his junior year, Coleman currently has 93 receptions for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Coleman is projected to be QB Arch Manning’s top outside receiver in 2026, and both will be selected inside the top 10 in 2027.
