Who will captain Raiders in 2026 and beyond

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LAS VEGAS -- After shutting down Maxx Crosby prior to their Week 17 game, the Las Vegas Raiders made it very clear that they are prioritizing the future.

The Raiders finished 3-14 on the season and were able to clinch the first overall pick, which, if used correctly, could completely change the trajectory of Las Vegas and what they could be as a football team.

The first piece of that is figuring out who will be the quarterback moving forward. In a division with Bo Nix, Justin Herbert, and Patrick Mahomes, it is imperative that the Raiders find their franchise guy so they can compete. In today’s game, you must be able to put up points, and without a quarterback to operate the game, that becomes a very tough task.

This past season, Geno Smith massively underperformed after Las Vegas traded for him, hoping they could contend for a playoff spot. Smith led the NFL in interceptions with 17, and the offense really never got going. A major part was the lack of a quick and efficient passing game to open up the run game.

So, who could the Raiders look at to play QB in 2026? Well, the unanimous option appears to be the Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has led them to a national championship appearance and a 15-0 season.

Mendoza brings a skillset that takes what the defense gives, doesn’t force anything, and is one of the best teammates you can find. In every single interview he has done, he gives credit to everyone else before himself, showcasing his humility and understanding that it takes a whole team effort to win.

There is no doubt that the culture shift that his coach, Curt Cignetti, has made has had a massive impact on Mendoza and how he goes about his play. Discipline and a desire to win are at the forefront of their approach this season.

The other option they could look at is Oregon QB Dan Moore. The only question with Moore is if he is going back to school for another year because he is just 20 years old, and after his performance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, he may need more reps. The more experienced quarterbacks have definitely panned out in the NFL.

Part-owner Tom Brady no doubt will have a lot of say in this decision. Mendoza’s playstyle is definitely very similar to Brady’s, which could be a reason why they land on him and set up the Raiders for a future to compete in the AFC West.

The next big question is who will be coaching the Las Vegas quarterback in 2026 and beyond after the firing of Pete Carroll. Carroll was a great coach in his prime; however, with a team that is so young and inexperienced, the Raiders need a younger coach who can stick around for a rebuild.

There are many great options for coaches, and there could be some that become available after the playoffs finish.

Currently, there are a few names that could be interesting depending on what direction they want to go. Those names include John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Brian Flores, Klint Kubiak, Chris Shula, and Mike Lafleur.

This decision really depends on what kind of culture the Raiders want to set and what their emphasis is. Stefanski (Let go from the Cleveland Browns as Head Coach), Kubiak (Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator), and Mike Lafleur (Los Angeles Rams Offensive Coordinator) are all offensive minds, and with a young quarterback, this could be the better course of action.

The other option would be to go with Brian Flores (Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator), Chris Shula (Rams Defensive Coordinator), and John Harbaugh (Let go from Baltimore Ravens as Head Coach) as defensive minds to minimize points from opposing teams and give a younger quarterback more confidence that they don’t have to score every drive.

I think I would go with Stefankski, Flores, or Harbaugh because of their experience as a head coach and the understanding of what it takes, as well as how to build a roster, with all of them having some kind of playoff experience. With a young team, that is very important.

Regardless of what Las Vegas decides for its next coach, it will be very interesting to see how it builds the team and what the future holds.

Aside from the two major decisions of coach and quarterback, the Raiders have several other positions to fix.

The offensive line needs a lot of help, the receiving core needs a massive boost, the secondary needs more ball hawks and cover players, more push is needed up front to stop the run and get after the quarterback, and the linebackers need some more depth and fit runs as well as cover the middle of the field.

In this offseason, Las Vegas has a tremendous opportunity to get the right coach and its franchise quarterback. Beyond that, they are projected to have around $100 million in cap space, which could help them to be competitive in 2026 and fix several issues that they have.

Raiders fans, this offseason will be a big one for the future to get the coach and quarterback right, as well as protection up front.

The future is bright; the ship will sail a little faster in 2026.

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