Raiders’ John Spytek mum on top prospect Fernando Mendoza, hasn’t talked with Geno Smith in offseason – NFL.com

At the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday, Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek declined to name a preferred No. 1 pick and confirmed he has not spoken with starting quarterback Geno Smith since the 2025 season ended. Outside analysts and many mock drafts heavily favor Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the top overall selection in the 2026 draft, but Spytek stayed deliberately noncommittal. Spytek said the coaching staff and front office are still assembling plans for the roster and will meet soon to set the quarterback timeline. The exchange highlighted an unsettled offseason in Las Vegas as contract deadlines and roster decisions loom.

Key takeaways

• Many analysts project Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, based on his college performance and scouting grades.
• Raiders GM John Spytek did not mention Mendoza by name at the Combine and described a measured approach to a rookie QB’s early usage.
• Spytek told reporters he has not talked to Geno Smith since the season ended; Smith returns to an important contract date on March 13 when $8 million becomes fully guaranteed for 2026, per Spotrac.
• Smith signed a two-year, $75 million extension after being acquired last offseason in a trade that reunited him with coach Pete Carroll; Carroll has since left the Raiders and Klint Kubiak is now head coach.
• The Raiders finished 3-14 in 2025 with Smith throwing a team-high 17 interceptions, prompting questions about the position’s future in Las Vegas.
• Spytek said the organization wants a franchise QB who is a leader, obsessive in preparation and durable — traits many evaluators attribute to Mendoza.
• Spytek suggested pairing a rookie with an experienced option rather than forcing a first-year starter into Week 1, leaving open the possibility of a bridge veteran.

Background

The 2026 draft cycle has been dominated in public discussion by Fernando Mendoza, an Indiana quarterback widely rated at or near the top of prospect boards after leading Indiana to a national championship season. Scouts praise Mendoza’s accuracy, size and toughness, traits teams covet in a franchise passer. The Las Vegas position is especially scrutinized after the team acquired Geno Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks last offseason; Smith later signed a two-year, $75 million extension that included guaranteed money tied to dates this March.

Leadership turnover complicates the Raiders’ calculus. Pete Carroll — who originally coached Smith in Seattle — is no longer with the organization, and Klint Kubiak has been promoted to head coach, bringing a different offensive approach and staff. That change increases the urgency for the front office to align on quarterback strategy before key contract guarantees trigger decisions. The NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis remains the primary venue for teams to gather medical data, interview prospects and refine draft boards ahead of April’s draft.

Main event

At the Combine, Spytek repeatedly avoided pinning the Raiders to Mendoza as the sure-fire No. 1 selection, emphasizing process over headlines. He described the attributes the franchise seeks at quarterback — leadership, relentlessness in preparation, toughness and throwing ability — without directly tying those criteria to any single prospect. When asked about Smith, Spytek said plainly he has not been in contact with the veteran QB since the season wrapped and that he has seen training videos indicating Smith is feeling well.

Spytek framed the timeline around team-building meetings and the needs of the new coaching staff: Klint Kubiak and his assistants are still organizing their plan, and the front office will reconvene in Las Vegas to finalize strategy. The March 13 contractual guarantee for Smith increases the immediacy of the decision: if the guarantee vests, it affects both roster budgeting and the team’s willingness to commit to a rookie starter. Spytek suggested the organization is weighing the value of a veteran presence to ease a rookie’s transition rather than thrusting a first-year QB into Week 1.

Public-facing momentum still favors Mendoza. NFL Network draft analysts and many mock drafts rate him as the top prospect, citing his college tape and intangibles. Yet Spytek’s measured language and refusal to name him reflect a front-office approach that prioritizes internal evaluation and roster fit over media consensus. Those remarks come amid trade chatter surrounding other key players and continued questions about the offensive direction in Year 1 under Kubiak.

Analysis & implications

Spytek’s posture — publicly noncommittal about the presumed No. 1 — signals the Raiders are preserving flexibility. That posture allows Las Vegas to weigh medical reports, private workouts and staff input rather than lock into a pick based on media narratives. For a franchise coming off a 3-14 season and 17 interceptions from its primary passer, the decision carries both short-term and long-range consequences: selecting a rookie as the starter could accelerate a rebuild, while choosing a bridge veteran could prioritize development and roster continuity.

Geno Smith’s contract architecture sharpens the decision-making timeline. With $8 million scheduled to vest on March 13 for the 2026 season, the team faces a budgetary and roster choice: absorb the guarantee and potentially keep Smith as mentor or starter, or move on and free cap/roster flexibility. Either scenario has ripple effects for free-agency moves, draft-day trade talks and offensive staff hiring preferences. The new coaching staff’s scheme preferences will be a major variable in determining whether a rookie’s skill set aligns with the playbook.

National perceptions that Mendoza is the “safe” pick reflect his college résumé: accuracy, poise in the pocket and physical toughness are qualities that translate well to the NFL. Still, teams commonly temper expectations for first-year signal-callers; Spytek’s explicit preference to limit rookie pressure underscores a conservative path that some franchises adopt to protect developmental timelines. If Las Vegas prioritizes a gradual onboarding, the team might trade down, add veteran depth or sign an experienced free agent to bridge the gap.

Comparison & data

The table highlights the most concrete datapoints shaping Las Vegas’ choices: team performance, quarterback turnover, and contract timing. Those figures feed both the internal valuation of alternatives and public expectations. Historical trends show teams often avoid starting rookie quarterbacks immediately unless the prospect is unusually NFL-ready, which helps explain Spytek’s caution.

Reactions & quotes

Spytek said he has not had offseason contact with Smith and that leadership and preparation are top traits the Raiders will seek at quarterback.

John Spytek, Raiders GM (paraphrased)

Scouts and evaluators describe Mendoza as accurate, tough and capable of absorbing contact while delivering throws from the pocket.

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network draft analyst (paraphrased)

Local reporting noted Spytek’s comments at the Combine and relayed the general expectation around Mendoza in mock drafts.

Adam Hill / Las Vegas Review-Journal (paraphrased)

Unconfirmed

• Projected No. 1 pick: While most public mocks place Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, the Raiders have not confirmed their selection and could choose another prospect or trade the pick.
• Geno Smith’s future in Las Vegas: Spytek’s lack of contact does not confirm a departure; roster and contract moves remain under discussion within the organization.
• Immediate rookie start: The Raiders have not announced a decision to start any rookie QB in Week 1; Spytek indicated hesitance but no definitive plan.

Bottom line

John Spytek’s measured comments at the Combine reflect a front office that is reluctant to be led by external narratives, even when public opinion heavily favors a single prospect. The combination of a coaching change, a significant contract guarantee on March 13 and a poor 2025 record means Las Vegas is at a crossroads: commit to a rookie as the future or design a phased approach that includes veteran support.

In the coming weeks the Raiders will need to align the personnel department, coaching staff and contract timeline to reach a coherent quarterback plan. For fans and league observers, the defining signals will be whether Las Vegas uses the No. 1 pick on Mendoza, seeks a trade partner, or retains Smith past the guarantee date — each course carries distinct roster and competitive consequences for 2026 and beyond.

Sources

• NFL.com — national sports reporting
• Las Vegas Review-Journal — local reporting on Combine remarks
• Spotrac — contract database (salary guarantee details)