The Las Vegas Raiders‘ gamble on Geno Smith hasn’t produced the results they hoped for, and his time with the team might end after just one season. As a result, that could leave the Silver and Black searching for a new quarterback this offseason.
Moreover, at 2-10, the Raiders appear headed toward a top-three pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While they might have a chance to draft a young quarterback with a high pick, the issue is that there’s no can’t-miss prospect; well, there’s the potential for one in Texas‘ Arch Manning.
However, many expect Manning to return to Texas as he’s only in Year 1 as a starter. On the December 5 edition of the “Just Win Podcast,“ The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen shared the percentage he sees in Manning deciding to declare for the NFL Draft this offseason.
“I would say it’s less than five percent that he comes out just because he doesn’t, you know, he doesn’t need to come out,“ Nguyen said. “He doesn’t need the money, and the NIL money is so good right now for all these quarterbacks that they’re more willing to stay in school.
“I think he only has one year of experience. Peyton [Manning] and Eli [Manning] are talking to him about the importance of getting some games under his belt for his future development. So I don’t see him coming out.”
Raiders Would Be Salivating to Draft Arch Manning
While the chances of Manning deciding are slim, Nguyen did spotlight the traits that make the young signal caller special for anyone drafting him, likely in the 2027 NFL Draft.
“I think you have the traits there,“ Nguyen added. “He’s played much better after Week 3 than people have given credit for. Because he has so much hype after the first few weeks, everybody kind of shut the door on him, but if you watch him, he’s just played a lot better.
“You can see the development, you can see the high-end traits, pocket management, and just the way he moves for a guy his size is pretty unique.”
Should the Raiders Draft a QB in 2026?
With Manning unlikely to be there, the question will be whether the Raiders should use a high draft pick on a quarterback. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza would be the next prospect high on the draft board, but in a thin class, is he worth the high selection? NFL color commentator Charles Davis doesn’t believe so.
“No, I do not,“ Davis told Locked on Raiders host Q Myers, who asked if he has a quarterback who could go at the top of the 2026 draft. “I feel like we hear that every year, but this year was supposed to be a particular bonanza.
“And when preseason came, it was like a wealth of riches. Right now, where we’re sitting, the Indiana kid, Mendoza, is probably top of the food chain, but I don’t know that he’s top of the food chain. Like, ‘Hey, everybody’s got to go get him in the top five.’
“Right now, as we sit here, and there’s a long way to go, this could all change, and it always does… But we’re not going as we sit here today. This is not a day where we’re going to say, ‘Hey, all you quarterbacks go get fitted for a suit. You’re going in the top 10.‘ Because that’s not happening.”
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