Raiders GM John Spytek: Potential No. 1 pick trade partners 'know where they stand'

Adam Hill, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Apr 14, 2026

Published in Football

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LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek stopped short of confirming a trade for the No. 1 pick in next week’s NFL draft is off the table.

But it doesn’t sound likely.

“We’ve gotten a few calls and those teams know where they stand right now,” he said with a smirk at a Tuesday afternoon news conference at the team facility in Henderson.

The Raiders secured the top pick by virtue of a 3-14 record last season. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and a national championship, is widely expected to be the team’s selection.

Spytek had said at the scouting combine in February that he was “always listening” to offers and wouldn’t close the door on anything.

At this point, however, it appears the team is locked in to selecting Mendoza even after signing veteran Kirk Cousins in free agency.

It’s a bit of a different process for Spytek in his second season as general manager. He has the top pick for what he hopes will be the last time in his career. The benefit of that is that unlike last season when he had to wait through five picks to select Ashton Jeanty, there is no need to hope and wish the players you are targeting stay on the board for when it’s your turn.

“A lot less energy spent on hypotheticals,” Spytek said. “There’s only one team that can get the exact person they want and we have that option available to us if we so choose.

“Outside of that, it’s not much different. But then you get to the second round and it’s just like it was. Do you want to trade up, stay or trade back? And what would we be willing to give up or acquire to do it.”

The Raiders have 10 total selections in the draft, which begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh.