The QB Room - 2026

[Willmark]

Some thoughts here but first some assumptions:
1. Geno Smith is cut; likely a Post June 1st cut.
2. Kubiak’s system means he’s selecting for what works not who’s available, more on that below.

QB1- unless we do something truly dumb it’s Mendoza and starting from Day 1.

QB2- this may sound funny or odd, but there is a former heismann trophy winning, back up QB who fits Kubiak’s system and can help mentor Mendoza without an ego about it: former Raider Marcus Mariota.

At this stage Mariota is a URFA, knows the ropes of being an NFL QB an the pressures of being in the NFL as a hesismann winner. Plus he knows his role at this stage of his career.

QB3- while I like AOC12 I don’t see him functioning well in Kubiak’s offense. His issues of not seeing things fast enough in real time has still not gone away. Add to this he’s now several regimes away from when he was drafted.

Pickett? Likely gone still searching for another team to get a chance to start.

So that leaves a late round pick, UDFA or development.

Juts some thoughts, obviously Smith being cut is likely and Mendoza getting drafted.

And might as well address this: the one thing that should not happen? Bringing back the “former guy”. He’s not a fit for the system and doubt he could accept being the backup. Also let’s not turn this into another thread about him; there is a thread devoted solely for that on the site.

Add your thoughts.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

1. Let’s Go Mendo
2. Tyrod Taylor
3. AOC

[SkullCrusher]

I know I'm over thinking things but I was mildly alarmed by how strongly Spytek objected to the idea of the Raiders being likey to take Mendoza when asked yesterday. I thought for second that they may actually be open to trading out of the pick.

Mark will step in, any nonsense like that Mark will make the pick and Spy will be in serious employment jeopardy. Mark is looking out for fans because it's his pocketbook. If we don't take him, there will be a major case of fans checking out for a long while, Mark knows this, I'd go as far to say the Brady/Spy/Dr Oz experiment would be on very shaky ground.

[Attyla]

1. Let’s Go Mendo
2. Tyrod Taylor
3. AOC

Tyrod resigns, they have little choice

[BotesBoats]

Didn’t Brady say he isn’t a fan of QBs starting day one? I agree with that as well..I liked when a guy sat and watched and learned although it didn’t happen often..Mahomes,McNair were a couple I remember.

Haven’t looked at his situation lately,but if Cousins was available that would be a nice fit.Kubiak has worked with him..but who knows about that guy? Seems like a solid dude,but he may think he is still a long time starter and not willing to be a mentor..I have no idea.I mean he isn’t great,but if we could play the Bucs every week it may work

I went to go back and find it. But found about a dozen clips of Brady reiterating this point, that quarterbacks aren't developed enough, and I like how he describes his definition of that, on every media platform he gets asked. Its pretty evident he has a hard line stance on this. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Mendoza now that he has a say directly with his rookie QB.



(6~ mins in)


https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP89GGC2t/

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Tyrod resigns, they have little choice

1. Let’s Go Mendo
2. Tyrod Taylor or Mitchell Trubisky
3. AOC

[GoodTimeCharlie]

I went to go back and find it. But found about a dozen clips of Brady reiterating this point, that quarterbacks aren't developed enough, and I like how he describes his definition of that, on every media platform he gets asked. Its pretty evident he has a hard line stance on this. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Mendoza now that he has a say directly with his rookie QB.



(6~ mins in)


https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP89GGC2t/

I’d be curious if he was asked, “Okay, that’s how you feel about those QBs, but what if the QB was named ‘Tom Brady’?”

[tatalalicious]

Mark will step in, any nonsense like that Mark will make the pick and Spy will be in serious employment jeopardy. Mark is looking out for fans because it's his pocketbook. If we don't take him, there will be a major case of fans checking out for a long while, Mark knows this, I'd go as far to say the Brady/Spy/Dr Oz experiment would be on very shaky ground.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that, may have to take a trip to Raiders HQ and start a riot.

[BoJacksonRules]

When you’re the number 1 pick, and you’re exponentially the best player in the QB room you don’t sit.

[GoodTimeCharlie]

Let's hope it doesn't come to that, may have to take a trip to Raiders HQ and start a riot.

Not gonna happen. All Spytek has done is not “tip the hand”. What good GM talks about his plans for the draft? Even if the pick is as obvious as the nose on our faces.

[Xramfan]

Man, this forum is hilarious sometimes. I am no Carr fan but the amount of abuse he gets compared to the love given to a f[raiders_icon]cking future grocery bagger in O'Connell is mind boggling.

If Aidan O'Connell is the #2 for this team in 2026, there's a major problem.

One just isnt a very good QB

The other is a fraud that quit on two teams

[NoClapsPlease]

Surely we can do better than mariota.

[srv5490]

Honestly, I just want cheap backups this year and don't care if they suck. Hopefully, we will assemble a solid OL this off-season that will keep Mendoza healthy, but if he does get hurt, I'm fine with tanking for another year of good draft position.

I expect this team to be positioning to be playoff contenders by the 2027 season, and I wouldn't mind using draft choices on backup QBs in next year's draft, but not this year. We've got way too many other holes to fill this year to use a pick on a backup QB.

So, with that said, I would be fine with:

#1: Mendoza
#2: AOC
#3: UDFA

Again, that's for next year only.

[SkullCrusher]

Surely we can do better than mariota.

Can we? Do we need to?

[NoClapsPlease]

Can we? Do we need to?

Mariota is awful. I do not want to sit and watch him again.

At a minimum, get a guy that can get past his first read.

[Goodtimes333]

It'd be nice if Drew Lock was an FA. Has physical traits and spent time with Kubiak. He's got some seasoning in the league with a few teams. A good quarterback coach eliminates the need for a "mentor" type backup signing. Build the team up around Mendoza. Cap is too valuable to spend a 8-10 mil on a backup QB.

Aidan O gets shit on but his stats are better than a lot of backup qb's out there. Cousins even being brought up is hilarious. That guy is about the money first and foremost. He never seen a penny he didn't love. The only thing he values more than a penny is finding another one so he can rub em together. Easy pass. Trubisky/Wentz wouldn't be a bad option.