The Las Vegas Raiders dropped another game in Week 14, falling to the Denver Broncos. With that AFC West matchup behind them, the Silver and Black move even closer to the No. 1 overall pick—setting the stage for another “Monday Morning Mock Draft.”
At this point, most fans have accepted that the Raiders are unlikely to win again this season. Head coach Pete Carroll continues trying to keep games respectable, an admirable but ultimately misplaced effort. Realistically, he appears to be nearing the end of his NFL coaching run, and with his exit, a full rebuild should follow. If so, the obvious starting point is securing a franchise quarterback and building outward from there.
For years, the Raiders have done the opposite—spending picks and money on supporting pieces while relying on veteran stopgaps under center. That approach has failed. The good news: opportunity is finally on the way. Let’s take a look, Raider Nation.
Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Unless you’ve been off the college football grid, Fernando Mendoza’s name has been everywhere this week. He just led Indiana to a Big Ten Championship in a historic run. Some Raiders fans may find his postgame celebrations a bit “corny,” but the reality is simple: Mendoza is a leader.
Beyond intangibles, he led both the Big Ten and the NCAA with 33 passing touchdowns. Averaging 13.2 yards per completion is nothing to scoff at either—which was good for third in the Big Ten. He has the production and physical tools of a potential No. 1 overall pick. The question now is whether the Raiders will view him that way.
Why would the Raiders draft Mendoza?
At six-foot-five, Mendoza brings the traits teams want in a franchise quarterback: an underrated arm, functional mobility, and high-level field awareness for an incoming rookie. If the Raiders shore up their offensive line, he could realistically be a Day 1 starter. With his accuracy and vision, you put him on the field and see how quickly he can take command.
His aforementioned height will also aid him in his development; as we’ve seen this past season, Mendoza is able to get difficult deep throws out even as his pocket collapses. However, that was against college defenders—the NFL is an entirely different beast. It’s going to be of the utmost importance to surround him with adequate protection or he’ll panic (as would most rookie quarterbacks). He’s not Joe Burrow, but he can at least be a Pro Bowl-level player with the right setup.
Related: Should Ty Simpson be an option for the Raiders?
Round 2: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
If Carroll’s gone after this season, he will have left the cornerback group a mess. In an effort to build the unit in the image of his Seattle days, we’ve seen what can only be called a disaster. Nonetheless, the Raiders can mitigate some of that damage with Colton Hood of Tennessee.
Sporting a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 83.3, Hood saw most of his playing time outside wide–the cornerback recorded eight pass deflections this season along with an interception.
Hood’s speed will be one of the biggest reasons for his success at the next level. A true physical press corner, he was able to keep up with the fastest receivers in college—there’s no reason he can’t do the same in the NFL. His ability to change direction is notable and, quite frankly, helps his case as one of the top defensive backs in this draft. On Day 2, he’d be a steal.
*Top Photo: Getty Images