Silver And Black Pride
It’s Week 15 and the Las Vegas Raiders have a game against the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend. However, Raider Nation is, rightfully, already locked in on the offseason rather than this pathetic 2-11 team. So, we’ll continue focusing on the 2026 NFL draft and free agency for this week’s mailbag.
Q: Should the Raiders draft a quarterback with their top pick and then again in the fifth- or sixth-round? Someone like Diego Pavia? Similar to RG3 and Kirk Cousins, just food for thought.
A: I wouldn’t mind that strategy and like where your head is at, playing the lottery with two tickets instead of just one. But the Raiders already have that young, wildcard quarterback option in Cam Miller. He was one of their sixth-round picks last year, so it’d probably make more sense to just address another position. Granted, there is no guarantee that Miller will still be on the roster next season, giving your idea more weight.
And for the record, Pavia isn’t an NFL quarterback. He’s a lot of fun to watch in the college game, but the backyard football style of play that makes him so great just doesn’t work at the next level. I’m interested to see if he’ll give another position a shot at the Senior Bowl. Pavia could be an interesting offensive gadget player.
A: I’m starting to sour on Ty Simpson after that abysmal showing in the SEC Championship last week, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he stays at Alabama to get more experience. That adds to the “Mendoza or bust” argument, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s the top quarterback in this class after last weekend. But I do like Dante Moore as a solid second option.
Moore is dynamic, has a decent arm, smart with the ball and has made a handful of clutch throws this season where I’d be excited if he lands in Las Vegas, if the Raiders can’t get Mendoza. Then again, Moore could also go back to Oregon, and that would make the quarterback class thin.
After that, some guys have intriguing traits like LaNorris Sellers, Brendan Sorsby and Cade Klubnik, to name a few, but they’re definitely bigger projects. There is no such thing as a safe bet when it comes to the draft, especially at quarterback, but Mendoza and Moore are definitely the Raiders’ best options in that regard.
Q: Is there any generational talent in this year’s draft that makes you put drafting a quarterback on hold?
A: That’s part of the issue with the top of this year’s draft class; there aren’t a ton of ‘generational talents’ or ‘can’t miss’ prospects. The three guys who come to mind that I’d consider are Miami edge Rueben Bain Jr., and a couple of Ohio State guys in safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Arvell Reese. But I wouldn’t put them in the “generational” category.
To me, that adds a significant amount of weight to the argument that the Raiders should take...
