What Teams Need QBs in the 2026 NFL Draft?

[Gophers1992]

Lord knows there's a lot of bullshit on X, like constantly, but I've seen a few rumblings of some kind of trade between Baltimore and Las Vegas, with Lamar Jackson going to the Raiders.

Uhhh.... no thanks. First of all, the #1 overall pick has to be completely off limits, barring an incredible return. It just doesn't happen very often. Secondly, Lamar is due an absolutely MASSIVE cap hit of like $74.5M in 2026. It will be reworked, but he's still owed a lot and he'll still want a massive contract.

For Mark Davis, it would put butts in seats at Allegiant and I would guess that's an attraction in itself. But I hope it's bullshit.

Besides, how can anyone even consider a move like this when they don't even have a Head Coach yet?

I’d be intrigued. Jeanty + Lamar + Bowers certainly is a heck of a skill player trio. I really don’t see Mendoza as a high end NFL QB. The dollars obviously complicate things but I can see why they would explore the idea.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Lord knows there's a lot of bullshit on X, like constantly, but I've seen a few rumblings of some kind of trade between Baltimore and Las Vegas, with Lamar Jackson going to the Raiders.

Uhhh.... no thanks. First of all, the #1 overall pick has to be completely off limits, barring an incredible return. It just doesn't happen very often. Secondly, Lamar is due an absolutely MASSIVE cap hit of like $74.5M in 2026. It will be reworked, but he's still owed a lot and he'll still want a massive contract.

For Mark Davis, it would put butts in seats at Allegiant and I would guess that's an attraction in itself. But I hope it's bullshit.

Besides, how can anyone even consider a move like this when they don't even have a Head Coach yet?

The answer to your question is listed in the paragraph above = Mark Davis. You’re parsing this as a rational person, as I’ve stated before, I don’t think he is one.

The Raiders have always loved the splashy moves, since they last won the last SB; Al modeled thus behavior for Mark.

 

[upnorthkid]

Lord knows there's a lot of bullshit on X, like constantly, but I've seen a few rumblings of some kind of trade between Baltimore and Las Vegas, with Lamar Jackson going to the Raiders.

Uhhh.... no thanks. First of all, the #1 overall pick has to be completely off limits, barring an incredible return. It just doesn't happen very often. Secondly, Lamar is due an absolutely MASSIVE cap hit of like $74.5M in 2026. It will be reworked, but he's still owed a lot and he'll still want a massive contract.

For Mark Davis, it would put butts in seats at Allegiant and I would guess that's an attraction in itself. But I hope it's bullshit.

Besides, how can anyone even consider a move like this when they don't even have a Head Coach yet?

If I’m the raiders, I’d be thrilled to trade out of the #1 pick for Lamar but I’d want the ravens to give me their first back for the salary.

Unless you think they’re going to be smart enough to not take Mendoza

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

If I’m the raiders, I’d be thrilled to trade out of the #1 pick for Lamar but I’d want the ravens to give me their first back for the salary.

Unless you think they’re going to be smart enough to not take Mendoza

My opinion hasn't changed; unless they absolutely LOVE Mendoza, I would much rather they trade out of the #1 slot to someone that does. The haul could really fill some holes on the roster, get a QB in the spring of 2027.

 

[upnorthkid]

My opinion hasn't changed; unless they absolutely LOVE Mendoza, I would much rather they trade out of the #1 slot to someone that does. The haul could really fill some holes on the roster, get a QB in the spring of 2027.

Roster full of holes, always the right move imo

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

Roster full of holes, always the right move imo

Not if you can get a franchise QB.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Not if you can get a franchise QB.

I have a hard time deciding if Mendoza really has the makings of a true franchise QB and worthy of the top pick in any Draft.

There's a lot to like about Mendoza and I'd certainly rather have him over JJM. Personally, I agree with others that think Vegas should trade away the pick if there is a monster offer on the table.

Go after a decent FA guy like Malik Willis that won't command a top QB salary and then make a play in what appears to be a stacked 2027 QB class.

 

[upnorthkid]

Not if you can get a franchise QB.

joy of even when you think you're picking a franchise QB, you more often than not are not picking one who changes everything for you and can hard carry a roster full of holes until after you can pay him (like what has happened in Cinci).

This is the exact mechanism of the Bears rebuild (1st overall where Panthers selected Young). Now you still have to draft well at those spots you move to, but unless you absolutely LOVE that QB and think he's the one to turn around your whole franchise, your margin, imo, is much better getting a whole haul of picks and players rather than a lottery ticket given 1st round QBs have a less than 50/50 shot of even being a "franchise" QB with GMs being notoriously bad at knowing who's good and who's a bust.

I get that everyone thinks they "need" a gamechanger QB, but your margin for winning goes up exponentially if you actually build a roster around a young dude rather than just keep swinging year after year after year, especially given your QB gets thrown to a shit storm without a roster around him (hence why Williams looked like ass last year, people thought Young should be out of the league, Darnold is doing well with a place that didn't draft him, and now on a competent roster, they're doing just fine even if they're not Mahomes or Allen). Instead we've got 4 teams left that built elsewhere then plugged in their QB once they found on they loved either in the draft or via trade. I get what you're saying and if there was a guarantee, sure (hence the why you only do it if you love the prospect, because someone always does and will trade you a bunch of assets for them). No reason not to abuse people who will overtrade assets to jump start your rebuild when you're so far away from having a full roster that can compete like the Raiders are.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I have a hard time deciding if Mendoza really has the makings of a true franchise QB and worthy of the top pick in any Draft.

There's a lot to like about Mendoza and I'd certainly rather have him over JJM. Personally, I agree with others that think Vegas should trade away the pick if there is a monster offer on the table.

Go after a decent FA guy like Malik Willis that won't command a top QB salary and then make a play in what appears to be a stacked 2027 QB class.

joy of even when you think you're picking a franchise QB, you more often than not are not picking one who changes everything for you and can hard carry a roster full of holes until after you can pay him (like what has happened in Cinci).

This is the exact mechanism of the Bears rebuild (1st overall where Panthers selected Young). Now you still have to draft well at those spots you move to, but unless you absolutely LOVE that QB and think he's the one to turn around your whole franchise, your margin, imo, is much better getting a whole haul of picks and players rather than a lottery ticket given 1st round QBs have a less than 50/50 shot of even being a "franchise" QB with GMs being notoriously bad at knowing who's good and who's a bust.

I get that everyone thinks they "need" a gamechanger QB, but your margin for winning goes up exponentially if you actually build a roster around a young dude rather than just keep swinging year after year after year, especially given your QB gets thrown to a shit storm without a roster around him (hence why Williams looked like ass last year, people thought Young should be out of the league, Darnold is doing well with a place that didn't draft him, and now on a competent roster, they're doing just fine even if they're not Mahomes or Allen). Instead we've got 4 teams left that built elsewhere then plugged in their QB once they found on they loved either in the draft or via trade. I get what you're saying and if there was a guarantee, sure (hence the why you only do it if you love the prospect, because someone always does and will trade you a bunch of assets for them). No reason not to abuse people who will overtrade assets to jump start your rebuild when you're so far away from having a full roster that can compete like the Raiders are.

I'm not 100% sold on Mendoza either, but there's a lot to like about him. There are plenty of reasons to like him better than Bryce Young at #1, so I don't think those are very comparable. Mendoza has everything Young had, plus he has size and mobility. Mendoza reminds me a bit of Carson Wentz, except Mendoza won everything at the highest level and stayed healthy.

Every year the NFL has teams that go first to worst and worst to first. Every team can win now. So you want the Raiders to just give up on next year before it starts without a QB? Chicago at least had Fields who they were still trying to figure out if he could cut it at QB.

I think coaching goes a long ways in the NFL. Chicago and NE are proof of that. Everyone thought NE was a long ways away last year and now they are in the AFC Championship game. The Raiders don't have anymore holes than NE did last year IMO.

Willis will probably end up making Darnold money for someone who needs a QB. There are just never enough to go around. That's why if I'm the Raiders, I stay at 1 and take Mendoza. There is no guarantee the QBs at the top of the draft next year will be any better.

 

[Ogie Ogilthorpe]

I'm not 100% sold on Mendoza either, but there's a lot to like about him. There are plenty of reasons to like him better than Bryce Young at #1, so I don't think those are very comparable. Mendoza has everything Young had, plus he has size and mobility. Mendoza reminds me a bit of Carson Wentz, except Mendoza won everything at the highest level and stayed healthy.

I'm completely up in the air on Mendoza. I just don't know enough to make any kind of assessment. I like the intangibles that I have heard, the off-field stuff, character, etc. which is a lot of the reason I'm pushing my chips in on JJ McCarthy. Guilty as charged, if he can stay on the field.

Every year the NFL has teams that go first to worst and worst to first. Every team can win now. So you want the Raiders to just give up on next year before it starts without a QB?

If they can get someone to give them a king's ransom for the #1 overall pick? Yes, I do want them to punt on next season and move the pick (unless they think Mendoza is going to be an elite QB). They can win some games next year with a great draft, a good Free Agency period this spring, and even a modest addition at QB from the available market.

I think coaching goes a long ways in the NFL. Chicago and NE are proof of that. Everyone thought NE was a long ways away last year and now they are in the AFC Championship game. The Raiders don't have anymore holes than NE did last year IMO.

I was all in on Vrabel, I thought the Raiders should have given him a blank check. No, I don't agree that the Raiders don't have more holes than NE did. The Raiders roster is atrocious, there's almost nothing to work with. It really IS that bad.

Willis will probably end up making Darnold money for someone who needs a QB. There are just never enough to go around. That's why if I'm the Raiders, I stay at 1 and take Mendoza. There is no guarantee the QBs at the top of the draft next year will be any better.

I'm fine with whatever they do. If they take Mendoza, it means that everyone in the building (including Brady in particular) thinks he can be their franchise QB. That's good enough for me. I'd love to see if they could get a pile of assets for Maxx Crosby, but that's another discussion altogether.