Who will captain Raiders in 2026 and beyond

LAS VEGAS – After cutting Maxx Crosby before their Week 17 game, the Las Vegas Raiders made it clear they are prioritizing the future.

The Raiders finished the season 3-14 and were able to land 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.

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The first step is to determine who the quarterback will be in the future. In a division with Bo Nix, Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes, it is imperative that the Raiders find their franchise player to be able to compete. In today’s game, you have to be able to put up points, and without a quarterback to run the game, that becomes a very difficult task.

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

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

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

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There’s no doubt that the culture change made by coach Curt Cignetti has had a huge impact on Mendoza and the way he plays. Discipline and the desire to win are at the forefront of their approach this season.

The other option they could consider is Oregon quarterback Dan Moore. The only question with Moore is whether he returns to school for another year because he’s only 20, and after his performance at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, he may need more rehearsals. The most experienced quarterbacks have definitely succeeded in the NFL.

Co-owner Tom Brady will undoubtedly have a say in this decision. Mendoza’s style of play is definitely very similar to Brady’s, which could be a reason why they land him and prepare the Raiders for a future to compete in the AFC West.

The next big question is who will coach Las Vegas’ quarterback in 2026 and beyond after Pete Carroll is fired. Carroll was an excellent coach in his early days; However, with such a young and inexperienced team, the Raiders need a younger coach who can stick around for a rebuild.

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There are many interesting options for coaches, and some could become available after the playoffs end.

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

This decision really depends on what type of culture the Raiders want to build and how much emphasis they place on it. 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, that might be the best 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 (Baltimore Ravens release as head coach) as defensive minds to minimize opposing teams’ points and give a younger quarterback more confidence that he doesn’t have to score on every drive.

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

Whatever Las Vegas decides for its next coach, it will be very interesting to see how the team is built and what the future holds.

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

The offensive line needs a lot of help, the receiving core needs a huge boost, the secondary needs more ball hawks and coverage players, more push is needed up front to stop the run and pursue the quarterback, and the linebackers need more depth and run form as well as cover the middle of the field.

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This offseason, Las Vegas has a tremendous opportunity to find the right coach and franchise quarterback. Beyond that, they should have around $100 million in cap space, which could help them be competitive in 2026 and address several issues they have.

Raiders fans, this offseason will be important moving forward to get the right results for the coach and quarterback, as well as the protection up front.

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