Could Raiders Target Quarterback In First Round Of 2026 NFL Draft?

This season has not gone the way anyone within the Las Vegas Raiders expected, as the team has already been eliminated from playoff contention. One of the main culprits behind this has been quarterback play, as Geno Smith has struggled mightily in his first season with the franchise.

Smith is far from the only issue with this team, as poor offensive line play and questionable playcalling have also hindered this offense. But Smith has still thrown a league-high 14 interceptions so far this season, and it is well known that you simply can’t win in the NFL without strong quarterback play.

Even if Smith were to return next year and play better, the Raiders still need a long-term plan at the quarterback position, which is why it is very possible the team could target one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draf,t according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN:

Whether Geno Smith is back or not, the Raiders need to create a succession plan for the 35-year-old quarterback. Smith has struggled for the majority of the 2025 campaign. The Raiders already have offensive cornerstones in running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers, so landing a young quarterback would be beneficial. At the same time, this decision also hinges on how the coaching staff looks in 2026. Las Vegas has already parted ways with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and Pete Carroll’s future is in question since the team hasn’t made any progress under his leadership.

As was noted, the Raiders have a couple of offensive cornerstones that should make life easier on any young quarterback the team brings in. The 2026 draft isn’t projected to have the generational QB prospect of other years, but there are some intriguing players, including Oregon’s Dante Moore, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

As it currently stands, the Raiders sit at 2-10 and would own the fourth overall pick in the draft, though they have the same record as both the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants, who have the second and third pick, respectively, right now. The Tennessee Titans, at 1-11, have the first overall pick right now, just as they did a season ago, but with them selecting Cam Ward last year, they could choose to trade down.

Chip Kelly reportedly botched play calls as Raiders offensive coordinator

The Raiders’ offense has been arguably the worst in the league this season, and the team has already moved on from Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator after only 11 games. And apparently, things were even worse than most knew, as Kelly was reportedly botching play calls throughout the season.