One No. 1 Pick, one north star: How Brock Bowers became the Raiders’ draft focus

The Raiders have put Mendoza into a quarterback room with Cousins, Sawyer Robertson, and Jacob Clark. That’s a complete overhaul. Mendoza gets to develop as the future starter. Cousins gives them an experienced pro who can set the tone day-to-day. The others fill out the depth chart and work towards a role.

It also makes O’Connell’s situation pretty clear. Once Mendoza and Cousins arrived, he went from being part of the plan to surplus to requirements. That’s not about his ability—just how it goes when new leadership puts their own stamp on things, especially at quarterback.

Mendoza’s role, Cousins’ experience, and the fresh approach to rebuilding

The Raiders gave Mendoza the job of resetting the team and put him alongside Cousins, Sawyer Robertson, and Jacob Clark. That move reshaped the entire quarterback group. Mendoza’s role is clear – he’s there to lead the future, while Cousins brings valuable experience during a period of change. Meanwhile, the younger players fight for their place further down the line.

It also makes Aidan O’Connell’s situation clearer. Once Mendoza and Cousins came in, he no longer looked like someone filling a gap but more like an extra name on a crowded list. It wasn’t personal – it was just a numbers game, especially after using a top draft pick on another quarterback.

Adding four defensive backs in one draft puts immediate pressure on the Raiders’ secondary

Las Vegas added Treydan Stukes, McCoy, Dalton Johnson, and Hezekiah Masses to the defensive backfield. That is not normal depth shopping. That is a front office telling its incumbent secondary that competition is coming and ball production needs to improve.

They also showed their trust in Bowers by not drafting a tight end and waiting until late to pick up a wide receiver. Overhauling the entire quarterback group made it clear they weren’t satisfied with how things were running before.

John Spytek’s first draft as GM painted a clear picture of the direction they’re heading. Mendoza is seen as the long-term answer at quarterback. The offence revolves around Bowers. And McCoy represents a calculated risk that could pay off big if his health holds up.

The incumbents who are not part of that plan — O’Connell, the existing corners, the depth receivers — have been put on notice by a draft class that was built to replace them, not compete alongside them. That is a coherent plan with a defined spine. It is also a demanding one because it leaves very little room for any of these bets to miss.

Read more:

• Howie Roseman’s high-stakes gamble: Choose chaos, skip the A.J. Brown replacement
• Betting on Jaxson Dart: Giants’ draft plan sends Kayvon Thibodeaux a loud wake-up call
• A Mid-first-run defensive surge is poised to upend the entire first round