Raiders QB options: Who could Las Vegas pair with Fernando Mendoza?
Klint Kubiak said Fernando Mendoza would play behind a veteran "in a perfect world." Here are the best veteran QB options the Raiders could add.
The Las Vegas Raiders are seemingly set to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft . That doesn't necessarily mean Las Vegas will be looking to start the reigning Heisman Trophy winner in Week 1.
"I think in a perfect world, he's watching a mature adult go and run an offense and run the team," first-year coach Klint Kubiak told reporters when discussing Mendoza at the NFL's annual meeting March 31. Any plan not to start Mendoza would be contingent upon the team having a proven veteran to play ahead of him. Presently, the team has just one quarterback on its roster after trading Geno Smith to the New York Jets .
That would be Aidan O'Connell , a 2023 fourth-round pick who has started 17 games across his three NFL seasons. As such, Kubiak acknowledged his hopes Mendoza would not be rushed into action may not come to fruition. "You might not have that veteran to show him the way," Kubiak told reporters.
"So he might come in and have to play immediately. But you’d rather him learn before he gets in the game. " That said, there are still plenty of veteran quarterbacks the Raiders could consider adding to their roster to pair with Mendoza.
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