With the odds all the way down to -20000 for quarterback Fernando Mendoza to be the first pick in the draft, there seems to be no way the Raiders won’t be taking him.
The move was treated like a given during quarterback Kirk Cousins’s introductory press conference on Wednesday, when he was asked about the fact that the Raiders will have an all-Big Ten depth chart with quarterbacks from Michigan State, Purdue, and Indiana. (Cousins played for Michigan State, Aidan O’Connell played for Purdue, and Mendoza played for Indiana.)
Cousins didn’t say in response something like, “Well, they haven’t drafted Mendoza yet” or “I don’t know what they’re going to do with the first pick.” He answered the question as it was asked, with no caveat or disclaimer.
On one hand, nothing is done until it’s done. We were reminded of that last month when the trade that would have sent Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby to the Ravens fell through. On the other hand, it seems highly unlikely the Raiders won’t take Mendoza.
Yes, there have been surprises before. Twenty-five years ago, everyone expected the Chargers to select Michael Vick. In those days, there were many more terms to negotiate with first-round picks, and the talks between the Chargers and Vick collapsed at the eleventh hour. Enter the Falcons, and Atlanta ended up trading for the top pick.
Nowadays, there’s little over which to haggle. Barring a Reggie Bush-style surprise (which, given the current landscape of college sports, now seems ludicrous), it will be Mendoza to the Raiders.
What would it take? Some other team would have to make the Raiders an offer they couldn’t refuse, one that would entail sufficient draft picks to get them to put a pin in the pursuit of a rookie quarterback until 2027 (when the class is believed to be stronger) while also addressing multiple holes in the roster.
The Bears did that in 2023, trading out of the top spot with the Panthers and acquiring the 2024 first-round pick that became the No. 1 overall selection. In 2023, the Bears remained committed to Justin Fields. By 2024, they were ready to pounce on Caleb Williams.
If the Raiders are currently evaluating an offer like that, everyone has kept it very quiet. And evaluating it and taking it are two different things.
Regardless, there’s no smoke. Which means that, if there’s even a flicker of a flame, it’s being incredibly well concealed.
After Kaleb McGary announced his retirement, the Falcons have found a veteran candidate to slot in at right tackle.
Jawaan Taylor has agreed to a one-year deal with Atlanta, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Schefter notes the deal is worth $5 million with another $1 million in incentives.
Taylor, 28, was released in March after three tumultuous seasons with the Chiefs. While he won Super Bowl LVIII with the club in 2023, he also amassed a whopping 54 penalties in his time with the club.
Taylor started all 17 games in 2023 before starting 16 in 2024 and 12 in 2025.
Taylor’s presence on the right side will be particularly important with lefty quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa atop the Falcons’ depth chart.
The Falcons are in the market for a new right tackle.
Kaleb McGary is retiring, his agent announced on Wednesday.
McGary, 31, was the No. 31 overall pick for the Falcons in 2019. He played 93 games with 92 starts for the club over six seasons before missing the entire 2025 campaign with a knee injury suffered during training camp.
McGary had signed a two-year extension with the Falcons in August of last year.
Elijah Wilkinson, who started at right tackle for Atlanta last season, has since signed with the Cardinals.
With lefty quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa atop the depth chart for Atlanta, the club’s right tackle position is that much more important.
The Dolphins have parted ways with both of their top wide receivers from the 2025 season, so there’s a good chance they’ll be addressing the spot during the draft later this month.
One potential addition is set for a meeting with the team next week. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that Denzel Boston is due for a visit.
Boston has also spent time with the Steelers, Raiders, and Browns after catching 125 passes for 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns at Washington over the last two seasons.
The Dolphins released Tyreek Hill and traded Jaylen Waddle to Denver for a package that included the 30th overall pick. They also own the 11th pick and have signed Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell as free agents over the last few weeks.
The likely No. 1 overall pick will not be in Pittsburgh when his name is called for this year’s draft.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he’s planning to be in Miami with his family for the draft instead of attending the event in person, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Mendoza is the heavy favorite to be selected by the Raiders at No. 1 overall. It would be an extreme upset if he weren’t the first pick later this month.
The NFL has not released a list of the names of prospects who will be on hand in Pittsburgh for the draft. But the first handshake and hug from commissioner Roger Goodell is now not set to go to the first pick.
