All pundits, prognosticators and signs point to the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Raiders general manager John Spytek, however, did not say Mendoza’s name when addressing the media at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday. Apparently, he hasn’t spoken to Las Vegas’ 2025 starting QB, Geno Smith, this offseason, either.
“I have not talked to Geno since the season ended,” Spytek said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine, via the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Adam Hill. “I’ve seen videos of him training, and I know he’s feeling good. We’ll talk soon.”
Soon is key with Smith, who will receive an additional $8 million in fully guaranteed salary for 2026 on March 13, per Spotrac. Acquired last offseason via trade with the Seattle Seahawks to reunite with his former head coach Pete Carroll, Smith signed a two-year, $75 million extension.
Now that Carroll is the Raiders’ former head coach, and Klint Kubiak has taken the reins, it’s likely Smith could be one and done in Silver and Black, as well.
“Obviously, the contract predicates that a little bit,” Spytek said of a timeline on a Smith decision. “Klint and his staff are just getting everything together, and we’re going to spend some time here, and then when we get back to Vegas kind of formulating the plan with everybody going forward.”
Chief among the Raiders' plans will no doubt be figuring out a plan at quarterback.
Though Spytek didn’t mention Mendoza, he described the traits he’s looking for in a franchise QB.
“A leader, tough as hell,” Spytek said. “Somebody that loves to play football, maniacal preparer. Obviously, somebody that can throw the ball well, but I think just somebody that loves the game and will give everything for their teammates. ... I think there’s a great humility and selflessness required to play that position at a high level.”
In the eyes and opinions of many, Mendoza has those traits in spades, having showcased them as he led Indiana to a national championship last season.
“Mendoza is a very accurate thrower with excellent size, toughness and enough athleticism,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah wrote of the QB in his top 50 prospect rankings, where Mendoza is ranked No. 1. “He is insanely tough, routinely hanging in the pocket and absorbing big hits.”
Though most have Mendoza penciled in to be the No. 1 name off the board, Spytek doesn’t necessarily believe in having a rookie on the field in Week 1.
“I think you want to limit the amount of pressure you have on that guy from the start,” he said. “Now, if you have a young quarterback, I’m not necessarily in favor of running him out there right away, either, so [you want] another quality player that can play the quarterback position."
Smith, who suffered a high ankle sprain at the tail end the Raiders’ 3-14 season in which he had a league-worst 17 interceptions, could potentially be that “quality” QB to help onboard Mendoza.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: NFL Network and NFL+ will have live coverage of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 26.