The Las Vegas Raiders got their guy in general manager John Spytek, who then got the franchise QB in Fernando Mendoza.

Every single year, it feels like we always talk about how this is the year the Las Vegas Raiders finally run the show around. The discussions aren’t about the Raiders possibly winning the Super Bowl or anything crazy like that, but rather about them finally becoming a good franchise again.

They have had several regimes over the last few years. The Raiders obviously haven’t been what they needed to be. But this time really feels different.

General manager John Spytek is quickly realizing what it is like to be an elite GM. He has already learned from the mistakes he made last year with elite corrections throughout the offseason. It started with a free agency where he absolutely nailed it. Seeing how he handled the 2026 NFL Draft only further showed just how good he has been as a GM from year one to two. And, Spytek is getting his boss excited.

"The offseason has been very strong for us; we continually win the offseason. It's time to now make it translate to the regular season," Mark Davis, the owner of the Raiders, said. "With Fernando Mendoza coming in as potentially the starting QB, it's just so exciting… I believe we are in the forefront of getting this thing going again."

Raiders' 2026 NFL Draft class could be the one that changes everything for Vegas

There is some extremely good talent in this draft class. There are players who can be real difference-makers on this team. However, the work still needs to be put in. If that work gets put in, and everything gets turned around largely because of this draft class, Spytek will be praised from the rooftops.

This franchise has been in despair for over 20 years-that's 20-plus years of no playoff wins. Turning this thing around and becoming a perennial playoff contender would be amazing. This draft class, starting with Mendoza, has the potential to start that off.