John Spytek, Las Vegas Raiders
Getty
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders are going through a shake-up at quarterback this offseason, with Aidan O’Connell currently the only player on the depth chart following the departures of Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett.
Moreover, all signs point to former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza being the next player to occupy a spot on the depth chart.The Raiders were looking to add a veteran in Joe Flacco, but he decided to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals.
As a result, it appears that the Silver and Black want a veteran signal caller to go with O’Connell and likely Mendoza. On March 30,Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke with reporters and shared an update on the team’s plan to improve the QB position as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.
“Aidan’s played a lot of good football in this league,” Spytek said. “He’s started, he’s thrown for 300 yards in games. He’s a great teammate, works his tail off, and he’s smart.
“Obviously, he’s the only quarterback on the roster right now, and at a premium position, I think it’s a fair question to ask. We’re considering a bunch of different things right now, and I think we’ll have some answers here in the coming weeks.”
Could Las Vegas Pursue Kirk Cousins This Offseason?
After missing out on Flacco,Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport identified one free agent for all 32 NFL teams to sign before the season starts, suggesting the Raiders add veteran quarterbackKirk Cousins.
“Just because Mendoza is the future under center in Sin City doesn’t mean he should be the present,” Davenport wrote. “And with Aidan O’Connell the only QB currently on the roster, the Raiders need a bridge starter who can hold down the fort until Mendoza is ready to take over the offense.
“Kirk Cousins wasn’t great in 10 games (and eight starts) for the Atlanta Falcons. He completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. But he is a four-time Pro Bowler with 167 career starts in the NFL under his belt. Whether it’s as a veteran stopgap or a mentor for Mendoza, it makes sense to bring in the 37-year-old.”
What Raiders Are Looking for at Fernando Mendoza’s Pro Day
Moreover, Spytek shared that the Raiders will be in attendance for Mendoza’s pro day on April 1. The Silver and Black’s general manager shared what he’s looking for in this pro day as the team enters this final stretch, as they decide who to take No. 1 overall.
“I think at any pro day, you just want to see guys compete and show up and be there for their teammates and put their best foot forward,”Spytek said on the March 30 edition of “NFL Live.” “I’ve been to a lot of great pro days in my career. I remember a lot of them, the best ones I’ve ever been a part of.
“Mostly when you go see these quarterbacks, they do an elite job. It’s a show. It’s scripted, and they know exactly what they’re doing and where they’re throwing it. Most of the time, you walk away being like, ‘That was a pretty good pro day.’”