The Las Vegas Raiders did everything they could to make sure that at the end of the season, they were the team that ended up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It gives them the right to take Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy-winning national champion.
Would they consider trading that pick?
That's the question ESPN beat reporter Ryan McFadden was asked in a new article on Wednesday.
MORE: The lastest on how Travis Kelce's wedding to Taylor Swift impacts retirement
McFadden pushes back on the idea entirely.
"I doubt it," McFadden writes of trading the pick. "It's hard to imagine the Raiders passing on Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, especially after ownership, including Tom Brady, attended the College Football Playoff National Championship.
"After Geno Smith's rough 2025 season, the Raiders need to bring in a young signal-caller who can grow with running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers. Mendoza has shown the toughness, accuracy and ability to deliver in pressured situations -- traits that Las Vegas would covet from the quarterback position.
"Given the current state of the organization, there's no need for the Raiders to overthink this selection."
MORE: Exploring 5 wild Broncos QB options to replace Bo Nix
That seems to be the correct take. Teams only ever really trade out of the first spot if they already have the quarterback they need and want to compile assets from a team moving up to get a QB.
But this has turned mostly into a one-QB draft with Mendoza followed by a sizable gap, and so the Raiders can't afford to pass him up.
The only way Vegas would potentially consider trading is if they first pulled off a trade with another team for a veteran quarterback.
For now, Mendoza seems most likely to end up with the Raiders, and then maybe the wheeling and dealing starts after their selection.
More NFL news:
- Browns can draft the brother of a Cavs' NBA star
- The 2027 Super Bowl is on Valentine's Day
- New perspective on Tua Tagovailoa and his head injuries
- Why Bills had no choice but to fire Sean McDermott
- John Harbaugh should already have a $100 million regret
- This throw is why the Bears drafted Caleb Williams 1st overall