The Las Vegas Raiders are going to be a popular team this offseason. Teams are going to try to trade for star defensive end Maxx Crosby, but he might not even be their most valuable asset.
The Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza seems to be the only quarterback worthy of a top-10 pick in the class. That fact makes the pick even more valuable.
The Raiders have a need at quarterback and are widely expected to take Mendoza, but it’s possible that another team will try to make them an appealing offer. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah believes the New York Jets want the No. 1 pick.
“I think the Jets would, effort, with all the picks that they’ve accumulated, to try and see if they could pry that pick away from the Raiders,” Jeremiah said on the “Rich Eisen Show.” “And the buzz down here among all the teams is there’s no chance the Raiders would trade off of that pick. They’re going to get their guy.”
The Jets are at No. 2, so it’s not a big jump. Jeremiah thinks there’s no doubt they’re going to be aggressive trying to trade up with the Raiders.
“I 100 percent think they would, 100 percent,” Jeremiah responded when asked if he thinks the Jets will try to trade up in the draft.
Should Raiders Consider Trading Down?
If the Jets offer three first-round picks just for the Raiders to move down one spot, that’s going to be very difficult to say no to. The Jets have been a mess, so getting their first-round pick next year can potentially be another top-10 pick.
That said, finding a franchise quarterback is one of the hardest and most important things for a team to do. Mendoza seems to have the potential to be one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL.
That’s more valuable than any amount of future first-round picks. If the Raiders move down to No. 2, they will have to wait to address their quarterback need. They could add a blue chip defenisve player like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, but the team isn’t doing anything until they solve the quarterback position.
How Much Could Jets Offer Raiders?
The Raiders would be wise to at least listen to what the Jets could offer. It’s hard to imagine they’d actually offer three first-round picks. The Jets also own the Indianapolis Colts‘ No. 16 pick in this year’s draft.
The Nos. 2 and 16 picks are the starting point for a potential offer. The Jets would likely be willing to give those up to get to No. 1. However, the Raiders might like the idea of getting the Jets’ 2027 first-round pick.
That gives them a better chance at getting a quarterback next year. It would be very tempting for the Raiders. In the end, it’s unlikely they actually consider trading down unless the Jets make a reckless offer. Mendoza is the perfect quarterback to be the face of the franchise. That’s worth a lot more than some extra draft picks.
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