Klint Kubiak and John Spytek have already accomplished as a pair what previous Raiders regimes failed to do time and time again
The Las Vegas Raiders finally have their franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, as past regimes have tried to get one so many times.
The Las Vegas Raiders will enter the 2026 season under a new regime determined to establish lasting stability. In the past, the Raiders cycled through coaches and general managers rapidly. That pattern ends now with Klint Kubiak and John Spytek.
Some will ask why this time is different and why Kubiak and Spytek will last longer than the previous regimes. Well, they are doing what none of the others could do—getting their franchise quarterback. On Thursday, as soon as that clock started, the Raiders knew who the No. 1 overall pick would be. They selected former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The new era starts now, even if Mendoza isn’t starting right away. This time, the Raiders are doing things the right way.
Raiders have failed to get their franchise QB the last few years
For years, the Raiders have needed this chance to draft an elite rookie QB.
The Raiders have had two quarterbacks they really, really wanted over the last few years but failed to draft. They wanted to trade up with the Houston Texans to draft C.J. Stroud, and that failed. They weren’t high enough to take him or anyone else worth taking. But since then, former general manager Dave Ziegler has been on record saying they really wanted Stroud. Since then, Stroud has gone on to win a few playoff games and be a premier QB in this league.
Then, they wanted to trade up with the Washington Commanders to try to nab Jayden Daniels, but that hasn’t worked. Head coach Antonio Pierce wanted Daniels, as the two had a connection from their time in LA and at Arizona State. They couldn’t trade up for him, as the Commanders would not budge. Since then, Daniels has taken his team to the NFC Championship.
In that same draft, the Raiders also passed on Bo Nix, who went one spot ahead of them to the Broncos. He has also taken his team to an AFC Championship. The Raiders have failed, and failed, and failed. Now, they have drafted Mendoza. The question is, will they be able to put a good team around him?
