Raiders GM John Spytek admits to getting 'a few calls' about the No 1 pick ahead of next week's NFL Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to make Fernando Mendoza, nan nationalist championship-winning backmost from Indiana, nan first wide prime successful nan NFL Draft adjacent Thursday.

But that hasn’t stopped teams beneath nan Raiders astatine No. 1 wide from calling their telephone astir a imaginable waste and acquisition up scenario.

Raiders GM John Spytek said during a pre-NFL Draft news conference, during which he admitted to getting a "few calls" astir nan first wide action his squad owns.

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General head John Spytek of nan Las Vegas Raiders looks connected earlier a crippled against nan Cleveland Browns astatine Allegiant Stadium successful Las Vegas connected Nov. 23, 2025. (Chris Unger/Getty Images)

"Those teams cognize wherever they stand," Spytek said, via ESPN.

Spytek said during nan news convention that bully trades tin ever materialize connected draught night, sometimes moreover correct earlier nan pick. However, if a subordinate stands retired to nan team, arsenic Mendoza is believed to person done, nan Raiders will move down an offer.

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"If there’s a subordinate that stands retired that we consciousness it’s not worthy losing, it’s not worthy moreover picking up nan phone, past we’ll conscionable make nan pick," Spytek added. "But if it’s a subordinate that we’re not arsenic excited about, aliases there’s a group of players that we would emotion to prime from, and we tin get worth for that, we’re surely unfastened to listening to that."

All signs constituent to Mendoza, who has cemented himself arsenic nan champion backmost successful this draught aft an undefeated play astatine Indiana. It besides became much evident that a backmost was needed for Las Vegas aft reaching a deal pinch nan New York Jets to reunite them pinch Geno Smith, who was their starter successful 2025 pursuing a anterior woody pinch nan Seattle Seahawks.

The Raiders, however, did bring successful Kirk Cousins aft his merchandise from nan Atlanta Falcons, though his $20 cardinal successful guaranteed money connected a whopping $172 cardinal woody indicates he will service arsenic a mentor for whoever nan Raiders bring successful nan building done nan draught . Aidan O’Connell is besides connected nan Raiders’ roster nether caller caput coach Klint Kubiak.

Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza looks to propulsion a walk during nan school's NFL pro time successful Bloomington, Indiana, connected April 1, 2026. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)

Kubiak is caller disconnected a Super Bowl triumph pinch nan Seahawks, serving arsenic their violative coordinator earlier taking this promotion pursuing a one-year stint by Pete Carroll successful Sin City. It didn’t spell according to scheme for Las Vegas, resulting successful nan first wide selection.

But things are looking up for nan metallic and black, arsenic Spytek utilized nan team’s immense free supplier headdress room to motion nan likes of halfway Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, and wide receiver Jalen Nailor, among others.

Now, Spytek and nan franchise person their eyes group connected improving nan roster moreover much pinch imaginable cornerstone pieces done nan NFL Draft. The Raiders person 10 full picks, including nan first wide selection, which is nan first clip they’ve had that slot since 2007.

And those picks, if it's Mendoza aliases anyone other successful nan draft, will person to gain their roster spot and playing clip for illustration everyone other crossed nan league.

John Spytek of nan Las Vegas Raiders speaks during a property convention astatine nan 2026 NFL Scouting Combine successful Indianapolis, Ind., connected Feb. 24, 2026. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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"Ultimately, this is simply a meritocracy, and nan champion feline will play," Spytek explained. "It’s conscionable really difficult to play really good astatine a young age. But we’ve seen plentifulness of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we person Aidan, and we’ll spot really it goes."

The NFL Draft originates pinch nan Raiders connected nan timepiece adjacent Thursday successful Pittsburgh.