With a clear quarterback need, Las Vegas is widely expected to take Mendoza, but there is growing talk that another team could entice them to move down. The New York Jets, sitting at No. 2, are widely viewed as the most plausible suitor to push up to No. 1 in a bid to secure Mendoza and reshape their quarterback plans.
NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah suggested the Jets would be aggressive in trying to trade up, stating on the Rich Eisen Show that there’s “100 percent” a pursuit to move up from No. 2. His takeaway reflects the broader buzz that a moving-the-needle offer could come from the Jets if the Raiders stay put at No. 1.
A down-to-2 scenario becomes particularly compelling if the Jets offer three first-round picks to move down one slot. While such a package would be bold, the calculus hinges on Mendoza’s potential as a franchise quarterback, a value that many teams would equate with stability at the position for years to come. If the Raiders did move, they could also shift attention to a blue-chip defensive player like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, though the quarterback need would remain paramount.
The Jets could present a meaningful package centered on Nos. 2 and 16 in this year’s draft, plus the possibility of a 2027 first-round pick—an enticing bundle for a team weighing its long-term window. Las Vegas would, however, weigh the cost against Mendoza’s ceiling as a franchise leader, and it’s far from certain that the Raiders would trade off No. 1 unless the offer is especially compelling.
Ultimately, Mendoza is viewed as the ideal face of the franchise for Las Vegas, which makes any move contingent on the offer’s quality. This analysis reflects Heavy Sports reporting, highlighting how the perception of a blockbuster trade could shape one of the most consequential draft decisions in Raiders history.
