After hiring their next head coach, the Las Vegas Raiders will turn their attention to the 2026 NFL Draft process. The Silver and Black have the opportunity to select a franchise QB in former Indiana Hoosiers star Fernando Mendoza.
However, there’s also the possibility that the Raiders could trade the No. 1 pick for more assets as they rebuild and don’t cut corners. As a result, there are several holes on the team that need to be filled.
Former Raiders running back Marcus Allen believes the team needs to vastly improve the trenches on the offensive and defensive line, which is why he would urge Las Vegas to consider trading the top pick for more assets.
“If I was a GM, I would go [trading the No. 1 pick] direction,” Allen said during a Jan. 28 appearance on “Golic & Golic.” “Again, getting a quarterback, and if you can’t protect him, that’ll be a disaster for him, and who knows if that will be mentally detrimental to him going forward. You just don’t know how people are going to respond and stuff.”
Marcus Allen Stresses Importance of O-Line for Las Vegas
Moreover, Allen cites his experience from his playing days in emphasizing the importance of an offensive line.
“If you’re really good at the line of scrimmage, and I’m not going to ever back down from this. Yes, I gained 2,000 yards in college and stuff, but I had guys up front that made it happen. Yes. And after maybe breaking the line of scrimmage, the rest was up to me. But those guys are the guys that make things happen. You can ask every great running back, you can ask every great quarterback that has played the game.
“Pass protection, not have to worry about the blind side, not have to worry about guys in your face, is something that is such a luxury, right? And not everyone has it and stuff, but if you look at the lines that are actually playing now in the Super Bowl, very good lines. They can run the ball, they can they can pass, block, and the quarterbacks have time to throw the ball, but if you don’t, oh man, all hell breaks, folks.”
Raiders Get Insight Into Fernando Mendoza Amid Draft Link
The Raiders need a franchise QB, and they are in a prime position to select one in Mendoza. Moreover, if they need more convincing, along with what Manning said, former NFL signal-caller Jordan Palmer shared insight into Mendoza, with whom he has been in contact since the player was making the move to Cal.
“I know him very well and really came on my radar on his way to Cal,“ Palmer said on the Jan. 26 edition of “The Jim Rome Show.” “Somebody tipped me off that this kid’s going to be really good… Look, the skill set, it doesn’t take you too long to go, ‘Alright, cool, NFL guy. ‘The skill set is what it is. He’s mobile, he makes every throw, he likes to throw on time.”
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