Fernando Mendoza in line for immediate boost as Raiders fight Bills for Super Bowl champion free agent

The Las Vegas Raiders are already planning their next moves.

With the Raiders on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it is looking certain that they will select Fernando Mendoza.

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The 22-year-old quarterback is coming off a historic season in which he led the Indiana Hoosiers to a 16-0 record, which culminated in the program’s first ever College Football Playoff National Championship.

The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner’s reward for throwing 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns to just six interceptions is joining an NFL franchise which has reached the postseason on just two occasions in the past two decades.

The expectations on Mendoza’s shoulders to make an immediate impact and turn the organization around will be high, at least from the Raiders faithful who have been crying out for a star QB.

The issue, though, lies in the fact that the Sin City outfit don’t have many offensive weapons for their future rookie to target.

While there is a rising star in tight end Brock Bowers, and Ashton Jeanty alongside him in the backfield, there are few other options.

The Raiders receiving corps in 2025 was comprised of Tre Tucker, Jack Beck and Dont’e Thornton Jr. as the starters after Jakobi Meyers was traded at the deadline.

Veteran wideout Tyler Lockett was also on the roster, but was used sparingly throughout his first campaign in Las Vegas, with quarterback Geno Smith targeting him just 34 times for 22 receptions, 221 yards and one touchdown.

As the Raiders front office – including minority owner Tom Brady – prepare for the Mendoza era, they are seeking ways that they can bolster their wide receiver room.

A viable option could be Rashid Shaheed.

“Some around the league are linking Shaheed to the Raiders,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote.

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“The feeling is that Las Vegas likes him a lot, though it will be selective at the position if the money gets too out of hand.”

The Super Bowl LX winner enters free agency after just nine regular season games with the Seattle Seahawks having been acquired from the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline during the 2025 campaign.

In 18 games between the two NFC teams, Shaheed recorded 687 yards from 59 receptions and two touchdowns.

In the Seahawks’ run to Super Bowl glory, he showed his potential, with him returning the opening kick-off for a 95-yard score against the San Francisco 49ers.

Aside from a highlight play here or there, though, he struggled to fully get himself integrated into the offensive scheme.

According to NFL’s Gregg Rosenthal, Shaheed is ranked as the third-best wide receiver available on the market.

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However, the Dallas Cowboys have already placed their $28 million franchise tag on George Pickens – who was ranked the best available – while the expectation is that Indianapolis Colts WR Alec Pierce will be too expensive to obtain.

Shaheed, though, is expected to be a hot commodity, which has some of the expected contending teams next season interested in acquiring his services.

Rival teams expect Buffalo to strongly address wide receiver in the coming weeks,” Fowler added.

“And multiple league executives are linking Rashid Shaheed or Romeo Doubs to the Bills.”

With the Seahawks already expecting to lose Super Bowl LX MVP running back Kenneth Walker III in free agency, they are losing key pieces in Sam Darnold‘s offense ahead of an attempt to retain their championship.

For the Raiders, though, a player of Shaheed’s ilk, if at a fair price, could be a great starting point on rebuilding around Mendoza.

But they will have to provide the young prospect with more talent to climb up out of the ranks of mediocrity and transform their franchise around into a perennial post-season contender.

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