Drafting Fernando Mendoza won’t be nearly enough for the Las Vegas Raiders. They’re going to have to properly secure protection for their quarterback.
Sin City is clinging to the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft, at least according to the latest news. In order to leave Raider Nation at ease about this, their team will need to lose against the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. Depending on who you ask, that should be a formality; then again, the Raiders might be facing a team full of second- and third-stringers.
Back to Mendoza, though. As we look ahead to the possibility that the Raiders draft their future signal-caller come April, that won’t be nearly enough. Las Vegas will need to ensure that Mendoza (or whoever they draft) stays upright. If not, it could be a disaster akin to what we’ve witnessed this season.
If general manager John Spytek wants to avoid that fate, he’ll need reinforcements for his battered offensive line. Fortunately, this three-round scenario offers exactly that.
Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
The Raiders would indeed be expected to select Indiana quarterback Mendoza at No. 1 overall, if only because the universe seems determined to hand them a do-over at the sport’s most important position. The Geno Smith trade did not merely backfire; it detonated in slow motion, leaving Spytek no choice but to treat it like a bad lease and walk away before the penalties compound.
Enter Mendoza, the newly minted Heisman winner and the only quarterback in America who made Indiana football look like a functioning space program. He has been the nation’s best passer this season, and the Raiders cannot afford to get cute. When you stumble into a generational reset button, you press it. Now, onto the more pressing issue: protection for Mendoza (and no, not that kind).
Round 2: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa
Gennings Dunker is another sturdy product of Iowa’s developmental pipeline, defined by toughness, reliability and steady growth. He logged snaps at both guard and tackle, but his size, power and technique make him a clear fit on the interior, where his disciplined, physical style anchors the run game despite limited athleticism.
For the Raiders, that profile fits a glaring need. Dunker offers immediate value as a sturdy run blocker and a long-term developmental guard who can help stabilize an offensive line that has lacked depth and dependability. His pass protection needs refinement, but his floor is that of an early contributor with starter upside. In the middle rounds, that is exactly the kind of foundational piece Las Vegas should target.
Round 3: Chase Bisontis, OG, Texas A&M
Chase Bisontis is a steady, technically sound interior lineman with the size, balance and awareness to anchor reliably in pass protection. He handles stunts and blitzes with ease, maintains leverage and offers a dependable, if unspectacular, floor.
For Mendoza, that reliability matters. Bisontis offers immediate help in pass protection for a line that has struggled to keep quarterbacks clean. His awareness and anchoring strength make him an ideal mid-round target who can stabilize the interior and grow into a long-term presence.
*Top Photo: Getty Images