NFL, American Football Herren, USA Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders Nov 23, 2025 Paradise, Nevada, USA Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith 7 talks to head coach Pete Carroll in game against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Paradise Allegiant Stadium Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 20251123_srs_lvcle_008
NFL, American Football Herren, USA Cleveland Browns at Las Vegas Raiders Nov 23, 2025 Paradise, Nevada, USA Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith 7 talks to head coach Pete Carroll in game against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. Paradise Allegiant Stadium Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 20251123_srs_lvcle_008
Jan 21, 2026, 10:00 AM CUT
Raiders Owner Sets Sight on Fernando Mendoza as Geno Smith’s Future in Doubt
On Monday, the Indiana Hoosiers won 27-21 against the Miami Hurricanes and became the 2026 NCAA Champions.
Inside a packed Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, among several NFL decision-makers in attendance, was Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis. Among the standout moments was a 12-yard touchdown run by Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a performance that elevated his draft chances.
An X post by journalist Mick Akers showed Davis standing on the sideline during pregame warmups, watching the 22-year-old Hoosiers quarterback closely. The clip quickly garnered attention at a time when Geno Smith’s future with the Raiders remains uncertain.
Smith is ranked 29th overall based on passer ratings, which stand at 84.5. Meanwhile, his quarterback rating is at 32.4. And despite a two-year $75 million deal in 2025, his performance failed to stabilize the Raiders’ offense.
Will the Raiders Have New Rookie Quarterbacks Next Season?
This season, the 35-year-old quarterback threw more interceptions than anybody in the league (17). With a completion rate of 67.4 per cent, he made 17 touchdowns for 3,025 yards. The Raiders ended the season with a 3-14 record and ranked fourth in the bottom five.
Given Smith and his team’s record, Davis openly hinted that he might be making changes with the franchise. According to a report by Akers, Davis has been paying attention to the incoming NFL talent for a few years now.
“There’s two really good quarterbacks in this game, and I’m really interested in seeing them both play,” Davis said.
“I’ve been watching Carson Beck for four or five years now, so I’ve seen his growth and his development. And obviously, Fernando.”
Who’s the Better Pick?
Although the Miami Hurricanes lost, their quarterback, Carson Beck, had a completion rate of 59.4 per cent and threw a touchdown for 232 yards. Since 2021, Beck scored 88 touchdowns for 11,725 yards with a completion rate of 69.5 per cent.
In the 2025 season, he made 12 touchdowns for 3,813 yards.
Meanwhile, Mendoza threw 41 touchdowns for 3,535 yards in this season alone. From 2023, he has scored 71 touchdowns for 8,247 yards.
The quality and talent of these two players are far more promising. If the Raiders do end up picking either one, the rookie would be the franchise's eighth starting quarterback in 3 years.
Regardless, can new talent carry the bottom-ranking Raiders on its shoulders and change the performance for good? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.
Written by
Akanksha Biradar
Edited by
Joyita Das