Las Vegas Raiders Reportedly Eyeing Super Bowl Champion As Bridge QB For Fernando Mendoza

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

The Las Vegas Raiders have ambitious plans for the 2026 NFL season. Barring something extraordinary, they will draft Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick next month. Despite growing interest in Alabama prospect Ty Simpson, Mendoza remains the clear favorite to hear his name first in Pittsburgh.

Additionally, the Raiders want a veteran presence to guide Mendoza. They traded Geno Smith to the New York Jets earlier this week, making room for another veteran tasked to help Mendoza.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported on Saturday that Super Bowl champion quarterback Joe Flacco could be an option for the Raiders.

“Speaking of Vegas, I’m told that that is an option for him, that they would have interest in potentially bringing him along as a backup/bridge if Fernando Mendoza needs to sit a little bit, assuming they draft him, which they will,” Fowler said.

Fernando Mendoza Hit With Harsh Criticism Ahead Of 2026 NFL Draft

An NFL coach told Mike Sando of The Athletic that Ty Simpson seems more NFL-ready than Fernando Mendoza.

“It’s amazing he’s the first pick in the draft,” one team executive told The Athletic.

“I don’t think he’s surefire at all,” an offensive coach who has studied all the quarterbacks in this year’s class added. ‘I like the Alabama guy [Simpson] better.’”

Simpson and Mendoza clashed in the CFP quarterfinal, with Mendoza destroying the Crimson Tide, 38-3. He went 14 of 16 for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Simpson went 12 of 16 for 67 yards. Even if the suspicions about Mendoza are true, having a veteran like Flacco should help him.