Geno Smith’s tenure with the Las Vegas Raiders has fallen short of expectations, and it now seems possible he could be out after just one season. If that happens, the Silver and Black will be in the market for a new quarterback once the offseason begins.
After their Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas now holds the No. 2 overall pick, while the New York Giants sit at No. 1 as the 2025 NFL season moves into Week 15.
With Jaxson Dart already on New York’s roster, the Giants might consider trading the top pick to a team in need of a quarterback, potentially one interested in Indiana Hoosiers’ Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders are in a prime position to select the 22-year-old. However, if they stay at the No. 2 slot, they leave themselves open to a team trading up, which NFL Draft expert Todd McShay is predicting with the Cleveland Browns jumping ahead in his latest mock draft.
“I personally think the most reasonable [team to trade up] given these circumstances would be Cleveland going from [No. 4] to [No. 1],” McShay said on the December 11 edition of “The McShay Show.” “It might be a new general manager, might be a new head coach. I’m not buying for a millisecond that Shedeur Sanders is their long-term answer at quarterback. I’m just not.
“I’ve seen others say, ‘Let’s give them time.‘ I just don’t see it, especially if it’s a current regime, although I would say the chances of both the general manager, Andrew Berry, and Kevin Stefanski, the head coach, being back are probably slim… Maybe a new GM, new head coach, fresh start, but maybe not. We’ll see.”
Raiders Predicted to take a QB in Todd McShay’s Mock Draft
If a team does trade up, it wouldn’t be the ideal situation for the Raiders. However, McShay still projects Las Vegas to use the No. 2 overall pick on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore.
“Vegas is sitting at two, [and] it’s got to be Dante Moore,“ McShay added. “I don’t like the inexperience, but you have to draft Dante Moore there.”
Although this is a prediction, Moore might not be available at No. 2, considering he can return for another season at Oregon. As a result, missing out on Mendoza might be a gut punch for the Silver and Black.
What NFL Comp Does Fernando Mendoza Have?
Nonetheless, if the Raiders lose out, which would mean the Giants winning the Week 17 game between these two teams, then Las Vegas can secure the No. 1 pick. With Mendoza looking like the top signal-caller for the 2026 draft class, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen gave his NFL comparable for the Indiana star.
“If the Raiders get No. 1, obviously, they have their pick,“ Nguyen said on the December 7 edition of the “Just Win Podcast.” “If they get No. 2, then they’re gonna have to possibly bid against another team if they really want the No. 1 pick just to move up one spot. And it seems like a waste of capital, but that’s how business is done. As far as Mendoza, my comp for him is Jared Goff with a little bit more mobility.”
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