If Las Vegas plans to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, they’ll need a strong quarterbacks coach to pair with him. Indiana’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer has drawn NFL hype for his work with Mendoza, making him a candidate the Raiders may prioritize.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are considering Whitmer for their quarterbacks coach job, but FOX Sports’ Greg Auman noted Whitmer might wait to see if he can reunite with Mendoza in Las Vegas. This potential hurdle adds another wrinkle to the Raiders’ evaluation of Whitmer as a fit in the long term.
Whitmer’s lack of prior work with Klint Kubiak is a consideration, but his NFL experience—and his proven rapport with Mendoza—could make him a logical Raiders hire. He recently coached in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, which would ease Mendoza’s transition to the professional level, and he could be a strong conduit between the rookie and the rest of the offense. A former Raiders QB coach candidate, Derek Carr, has also been floated in discussions around the position.
On the defensive side, Patrick Graham is leaving the Raiders to take the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator job under new head coach Mike McCarthy. The move removes a steady presence from Las Vegas, but it also positions Graham in a more stable, well-supported environment with the Steelers, which could affect the Raiders’ overall restructuring and long-term defensive plan.
Overall, Las Vegas faces a delicate balance: finalizing a head coach candidate (Kubiak) while aligning the supporting coaching staff around Mendoza’s development, including the critical quarterbacks coaching role. The timing and fit of Whitmer, potential staff moves, and the defection of Graham will shape how the Raiders approach the offseason and their No. 1 pick strategy.
