Raiders GM says teams are calling about trading up for No. 1 pick

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make Indiana’s national championship-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick in the NFL Draft next Thursday.

But that hasn’t stopped teams below the No. 1 overall pick, the Raiders, from calling about a possible trade scenario.

Raiders GM John Spytek spoke at his pre-NFL Draft press conference, during which he admitted he received “a few calls” about the first overall pick his team owns.

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“These teams know where they stand,” Spytek said. via ESPN.

Spytek said in the press conference that good trades can always happen on draft night, sometimes even right before the pick. But if a player stands out on the team, as Mendoza is believed to have done, the Raiders will turn down the offer.

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“If a player comes forward that we think is not worth losing, not even worth picking up the phone, then we will make the selection,” Spytek added. “But if it’s a player we’re not that excited about, or there’s a group of players we want to choose from and we can get value out of it, we’re definitely open to listening to that.”

All signs point to Mendoza establishing himself as the top point guard in this draft after an undefeated season in Indiana. Additionally, the need for a quarterback for Las Vegas became even more apparent after the New York Jets reached an agreement to reunite with starter Geno Smith in 2025 following a previous deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

However, the Raiders hired Kirk Cousins ​​after he was released from the Atlanta Falcons, but his $20 million in guaranteed money on a whopping $172 million deal suggests he will serve as a mentor for whoever the Raiders bring into the building via the draft. Aidan O’Connell is also on the Raiders’ roster under new head coach Klint Kubiak.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza plans to throw a pass at the school’s NFL pro day on April 1, 2026 in Bloomington, Indiana. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)

Kubiak is fresh off a Super Bowl victory with the Seahawks and served as Pete Carroll’s offensive coordinator before receiving that promotion following a one-year stint in Sin City. Things did not go as planned for Las Vegas, resulting in the first overall pick.

But things are looking up for the silver and black, as Spytek used the team’s ample free agent cap space to sign the likes of center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, and wide receiver Jalen Nailor.

Now, Spytek and the franchise have their eyes focused on further improving the roster with potential cornerstones through the NFL Draft. The Raiders have 10 total picks, including the first overall pick, the first time they have had that slot since 2007.

And those draftees, if it’s Mendoza or anyone else in the draft, will have to earn their roster spot and playing time just like everyone else in the league.

John Spytek of the Las Vegas Raiders speaks during a press conference at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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“Ultimately it is a meritocracy and the best will play,” Spytek said. “It’s really hard to play really well at a young age. But we’ve seen a lot of quarterbacks do it lately. We added Kirk, we added Aidan and we’ll see how things go.”

The NFL Draft begins next Thursday in Pittsburgh with the Raiders.