Raiders GM John Spytek Confirms Trade Interest in No. 1 Pick Before 2026 NFL Draft

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:39:00 +0200

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek revealed that several teams have reached out about trading for the team’s No. 1 overall pick ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. During a pre-draft press conference, Spytek said he has received 'a few calls' but emphasized that the Raiders are likely to keep the pick if they are fully convinced about their choice — widely expected to be Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza, who led Indiana to an undefeated national championship season, has emerged as the clear top prospect, and the Raiders view him as a potential franchise quarterback.

Spytek did not rule out a trade, acknowledging that valuable offers often emerge on draft night, but noted that if the team strongly believes in a player, 'it’s not worth losing.' The Raiders currently hold ten draft picks, marking the franchise’s first time selecting first overall since 2007. The team recently signed key free agents, including center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walk