The Las Vegas Raiders’ Bright Future

As the NFL draft approaches, the football world is almost certain that the Las Vegas Raiders’ first overall pick will be quarterback Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana University. The addition of Mendoza is just the beginning of a revival for the Raiders: away from recent disappointing years and towards a new era. Considering Mendoza’s potential, the young talent Las Vegas already has, and the recent hiring of Klint Kubiak as head coach, the Raiders could easily see great success in the coming years.

Mendoza ended his college football career with an incredible milestone, leading the Indiana Hoosiers in an undefeated 2025 season and their first-ever national championship. Over the course of 16 games, Mendoza completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, while also adding 276 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Mendoza exhibited tremendous accuracy on the field and exemplary decision-making, leading to efficient throwing performances while minimizing costly turnovers. The 22-year-old quarterback has also demonstrated notable resilience—seen in his ability to thrive in crucial moments—and leadership skills throughout his college career. However, his biggest challenge still awaits him. The hopes of many Raiders fans lay on the shoulders of Mendoza. Such intense pressure, combined with the extra difficulty of playing in the NFL, will be hard to handle. Thankfully, the recent signing of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, coupled with the fact that seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady is a minority owner of the team, will likely factor into the guidance and development Mendoza receives. 

In addition to Mendoza, the Raiders already have lots of young talent that will help the team usher in a new era. An example of this is running back Ashton Jeanty, who, in his 2025 rookie season, had a standout year. Though he was behind a lackluster offensive line, Jeanty still had over 1,300 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns. Considering the adjustments Las Vegas has already begun to make to improve its offensive line, it would make sense to expect future stellar performances from the young running back. Another notable talent on the team is tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers has already cemented himself as a star tight end with two Pro Bowl appearances in his two seasons in the league. His 2024 rookie season set records for tight end receptions and receiving yards, and in 2025, he caught 64 passes for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. Lastly, superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby remains in Las Vegas, despite a failed trade that was supposed to send him to the Baltimore Ravens. Through his seven seasons in the league, Crosby has consistently ranked among the leaders in sacks and tackles for losses, and is the anchor to the Raiders’ defense.

Las Vegas has made numerous coaching staff changes, with the most important being the change of their head coach. The Raiders’ organization offered former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak the role of head coach this offseason. While Kubiak hasn’t had experience as a head coach before, as offensive coordinator for the Seahawks, he transformed Seattle’s offense into a top-10 unit, playing a major role in their 2026 Super Bowl victory. Kubiak’s success can be attributed to his masterful play-calling on offense, with his strategy emphasizing outside zone runs and play-action passes. Given the loaded potential of the Raiders’ offense, great strategy and coaching could go a long way in making it an explosive unit. 

It’s unlikely that the Raiders would make an immediate jump from a 3-14 season to becoming a playoff contender; developing young players into key roles takes time and patience, and a new head coach instilling his approach onto the team overnight would be far-fetched. But even if immense success isn’t instant, their recent moves lead them in the right direction. With more improvements at positions such as wide receiver, the secondary—cornerbacks and safeties—and the offensive line, the Raiders could have a future with achievements that they haven’t seen in decades.