john mateer
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Oklahoma QB John Mateer.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been looking for a long-term quarterback option since releasing Derek Carr, but have failed at every step. This offseason, they traded for Geno Smith, who was supposed to be an upgrade over the Gardner Minshew-Aidan O’Connell duo from last season.
That hasn’t been the case, as Smith has been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL and leads the league with nine interceptions. Even if he can bounce back, the Raiders clearly need a young signal caller to eventually build around.
Las Vegas is looking like they’ll have a very high draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which could be the perfect time to draft a quarterback. There hasn’t been a quarterback to cement himself as the top player in the class yet, but Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer could be flying under the radar. Ayrton Ostly of USA Today projected him to land with the Raiders.
“With young talent at tight end, running back and wide receiver but an aging (and regressing) Geno Smith at quarterback, Las Vegas pulls the trigger on a young passer,” Ostly wrote.
“Mateer’s currently sidelined with a broken bone in his throwing hand but if he recovers well, he should be in consideration for a top-10 pick. He’s a creative runner who can extend plays as a dual-threat quarterback and create explosives. His performance against Michigan showed he can handle the tougher defenses in college football.”
Mateer’s Injury Could Hurt Draft Stock
Mateer is in his first year at Oklahoma following three years at Washington State. He was playing really well before a hand injury knocked him out. He should be able to return this season, but a top-10 pick might be too high for him.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid sees him as more of an early second-round pick.
“Mateer will be sidelined for about a month after suffering an injury to his throwing hand,” Reid wrote. “He is expected to undergo surgery. Mateer was climbing rankings quickly after impressive early-season performances against Michigan and Auburn. He was viewed as a middle-round prospect coming into the season after transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma, but scouts were starting to mention him in the early-Day 2 discussions. He’s the No. 4 QB on my board, though he began the 2025 season outside my top five at the position.”
Mateer Has Dual-Threat Ability
The Raiders haven’t had a capable dual-threat quarterback in a very long time. Smith is a solid athlete, but at 34, he doesn’t move that well.
Mateer is a good passer, but what makes him interesting is his rushing ability. Reid broke it down.
“At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, he plays with an aggressive mentality and fearlessness,” Reid wrote. “He operates well inside the pocket, isn’t afraid of testing tight windows and throws with anticipation in the Sooners’ up-tempo offense. Mateer was off to a fast start this season with 1,215 passing yards and six TD passes — and the underrated runner added another 190 rushing yards and five more scores on the ground through four games.”
Even if the Raiders kept Smith next year, they could find ways to get Mateer into the game thanks to his playmaking ability.