With just one week left before the 2026 NFL Draft, there’s a sense of urgency. It feels like we’re barely scraping by after all the changes—like Tua Tagovailoa becoming a Falcon—and the things that remain unchanged, like Maxx Crosby still being a Raider. At this point, diving into the draft seems essential to settle all the turbulence in the league and probably wrap up roster adjustments.
But getting to the end of this process will likely be quite a ride.
What kind of quarterback room will the Raiders have?
Since our last discussion, the Las Vegas Raiders have made some changes to their quarterback lineup. Unsurprisingly, the No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, is expected to adjust as well.
Kirk Cousins seems like a fitting presence for Mendoza. His recent time in Atlanta likely gave him insights into being a backup and mentor, which could be beneficial for Mendoza as he steps into the NFL.
It’s been intriguing to see Clint Kubiak join the Raiders. He appears to be starting off on the right foot.
Honestly, I don’t expect anything groundbreaking from this quarterback group. I feel like bringing in Kirk Cousins is just a safeguard in case Mendoza needs more time to take the reins. Although Cousins hasn’t been stellar since his Achilles injury, he’s still a step up from many backups and gives the Raiders a solid option.
In comparison to what we got from Geno Smith in 2025, this is a big improvement. Now, it’ll be interesting to see how they plan to fortify their quarterback’s protection and enhance the offense in the aftermath of the first round.
Which Draft Rumors Do You Buy?
This draft class feels unusual since there aren’t many consensus top picks at their positions. One tweet that caught my attention suggested Georgia’s Monroe Freeling might be the first offensive tackle selected, possibly surpassing players like Francis Mauigore from Miami and Spencer Fano from Utah.
Freeling stands out at 6’7” and 315 pounds, showcasing impressive athleticism. He seems to embody what an NFL tackle should be, and it appears teams might overlook his relatively limited college starting experience.
Is that a wise approach? Not necessarily, but then again, I’m just a guy penning an NFL column.
A lot of chatter around this class has pointed out its shortcomings. I think it makes sense for teams near the top to think about trading down.
I’m particularly inclined to believe this applies to teams like the Titans and Cardinals. They’re not positioned to make a serious run in 2026, so it’s wise to gather more resources for the future.
Someone outside the top 10 is likely to look to move up, I think.
Which Draft Rumors Are You Selling?
From my perspective, trading AJ Brown seems unlikely. I mean, why would Howie Roseman consider it now? What would the payoff be?
That said, the Eagles did pick up Brown during the draft, so maybe anything can happen. But right now, it feels like this just isn’t the right moment for the Eagles to shake things up without a solid reason.
Recently, there have been reports about Miami edge rusher prospect Reuben Bain Jr. being involved in a tragic traffic incident back in 2024. This has been widely covered, even though the families involved have expressed a wish to move on. When you see that, it feels like this whole situation has been blown out of proportion. It’s really unfortunate, but it probably shouldn’t impact Bain’s draft positioning next week.
Will the draft completely change teams?
Given the limited options for quarterbacks beyond Mendoza, I’m not convinced any player will dramatically shift a team’s trajectory post-draft. That’s just how professional football operates.
Capturing lightning in a bottle isn’t easy—or even guaranteed to change everything. Everyone’s been looking at the Seattle Seahawks lately, but what they often overlook is that every team approaches the draft with uncertainty.
As we near the draft, I’m inclined to say no, there won’t be drastic changes. The Raiders might be the closest to that shift since they invested significantly in their defense and hold the No. 1 pick. With their cap largely allocated to that side of the ball, it wouldn’t surprise me if they focused on offense in the draft, essentially building that unit around Fernando Mendoza as their hopeful future quarterback.
By the time the 2026 season kicks off, the Raiders are likely to look quite different from how they did at the start of last year.
