Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza (QB11) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

The Raiders' Offseason Plan Has Left No Stone Unturned

Originally posted on Las Vegas Raiders on SI
By Ezekiel Trezevant | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 10:00 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders have already improved as much as reasonably possible within the first few weeks of an offseason. Las Vegas' front office spent heavily to address many glaring needs. Yet, one glaring need still remains for the Raiders. It is one that has plagued them for years.

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Raiders' Future

Las Vegas is widely expected to draft quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Raiders' look to finally solve a quarterback issue that has nagged them for multiple seasons. Drafting Mendoza is the next step in the Raiders' offseason plans.

Still, the Raiders ' need for a quarterback and Mendoza's expected arrival will not force Klint Kubiak and his coaching staff's hand. Mendoza is unquestionably Las Vegas' quarterback of the future. However, when that future begins will be up for interpretation, according to Kubiak.

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At the NFL Owners' Meetings, Kubiak offered insight into how he and the Raiders plan to develop Mendoza. After Raiders general manager John Spytek noted at the NFL Combine that Las Vegas would take its time bringing Mendoza along, Kubiak echoed a similar sentiment.

“Ideally, you don’t want him to start from day one. You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from day one and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show," Kubiak said.

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This means the Raiders may look to start a veteran quarterback in the first week of the regular season. Las Vegas still has Aidan O'Connell on the roster, who has started over 10 games for the Raiders over the past three seasons. He is a viable option.

Yet, the Raiders will likely also look to add another veteran quarterback to the mix to help solidify their group of quarterbacks as a whole. Regardless of what they do, all options are on the table for the Raiders moving forward through the rest of the offseason and into the 2026 regular season.

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"Yeah, you have that conversation. You let them know what they're getting into, and hopefully they know what they're getting into. But I'm not going to ask them to that veteran to go to be a teacher,” Kubiak said.

“That's our job. Our job as a coach, you just want that guy to lead, lead with his play, lead by example. That's a lot to ask from a guy like they have enough to worry about to try to get the ball off when they get sacked, so you just want them to play their best football, and hopefully the young guy will learn through osmosis."