Raiders Hold No. 1 Pick With Mendoza as Target Sport By lines April 18, 2026 Raiders general manager John Spytek plans to keep the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Spytek said: “We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand right now.” Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza remains the expected selection on April 23 in Pittsburgh. Spytek Opens Door on Trade Value but Holds Line The Las Vegas Raiders earned the top selection after finishing the 2025 season at the bottom of the NFL standings. Spytek fielded inquiries from rival teams but stopped short of entering active trade talks. Spytek added he remains “open to all options” if a late offer exceeds the Raiders internal pick value. Spytek executed two trade-downs in the second round during the 2025 draft. Fernando Mendoza projects as the top quarterback in the 2026 class. Mendoza started his 2025 season at Indiana before entering the draft. The Raiders quarterback room already includes veteran Kirk Cousins and incumbent Aidan O’Connell. Coach Klint Kubiak prefers rookie quarterbacks to sit behind an experienced veteran. Mendoza would compete in training camp with Cousins and O’Connell. The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh. Round 1 airs on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App. Rounds 2 and 3 run Friday, April 24. Rounds 4 through 7 close the draft Saturday, April 25. Related Sports Coverage Dexter Lawrence Trade Talks Break Off With Giants Lakers Host Rockets Game 1 With LeBron vs Durant Justin Verlander Injury Recovery Slows for Tigers Source: NFL.com reporting on Spytek comments.
