Fernando Mendoza is the future of the Las Vegas Raiders.
And after trading Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings earlier this week, Mendoza is also the present. But beyond him, the future of the quarterback room in Las Vegas is very much in question, as Aidan O'Connell is the only other player at the position who is currently on the roster.
But his contract will expire at the end of the season, and O'Connell has made it clear to the media before that he wants a chance to compete for a starting role in the NFL, wherever that may be. As long as Mendoza is healthy, that opportunity will not be coming with the Silver and Black.
So, the Raiders may be diving into the backup quarterback wilderness this offseason. While they may look to add a young player in the draft as well, they will certainly want another veteran in the building to continue aiding in Mendoza's development. The problem is that the list of available players is bleak.
One name stands out as a good option, though: Drew Lock. And how fortunate it is that the front office and coaching staff will get a front-row seat to watching him in Week 10 as the Sam Darnold-less Seattle Seahawks come to town to face Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.
Raiders should pursue Drew Lock this offseason as long-term Mendoza backup
Lock is the perfect mix of experienced but not ancient, and he is proving this season that he can still play solid football and operate an offense when called upon in a bind. He has become much less erratic in his older days, compared to when he was a young gunslinger with the Denver Broncos.
So far this season, Lock is 3-0 in games in which he has played a majority of the snaps, with a win over the Patriots and two over the Cardinals. In those contests, he has completed 71.1 percent of his passes and thrown five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Lock is playing good football.
Plus, Lock played in Klint Kubiak's offense for a full year during the 2025 campaign when he backed up Darnold on the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks. He didn't get a chance to play much, with Darnold playing well in all 17 games, but Lock did impress during last preseason, which is important.
After being a second-round pick back in 2019 and having his chance to be a starter, Lock has pretty much resigned himself to a backup role in the NFL. And if, by chance, he thinks he'll get an opportunity to compete anywhere for a starting job next offseason, by the looks of things, he will not.
The 2027 draft class has several quarterbacks who could be taken in early rounds, and more coveted veterans like Mac Jones, Geno Smith, Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota and even Kirk Cousins are more likely to get looks as a potential starter than him.
So, if Lock wants a change of scenery or to reunite with Kubiak, Andrew Janocko and Rick Dennison, with whom he won a Super Bowl, or both, then the Raiders should also be on board. He won't break the bank, can step in in a pinch, knows the coaches and system and could support Mendoza.
Why Las Vegas' Week 10 game vs. Seattle matters for them and Drew Lock
Las Vegas' front office has proven that it will sign players who performed well against the team in the previous season. Nakobe Dean and Segun Olubi are just two of the examples. If Lock plays well, then that would carry significant weight for the Raiders.
Of course, it takes two to tango, and Lock would also have to want to join the Silver and Black, but if they make it worth his while financially, then it could be hard for him to say no. And if Las Vegas competes in this game, Lock could see the Raiders as an organization he wants to be a part of.
Nobody wants to join a lowly team that is going nowhere, especially after two years with a contender. Las Vegas could prove that it isn't. And John Spytek won't want a player who can't even perform well against Rob Leonard's defense, which has been the very worst in the NFL during the 2026 season.
If the Raiders' defense gets gashed yet again, this time by Lock, it will hurt a lot in the short term. Losing to a backup quarterback is never fun. But if it somehow paves a path to Lock being the long-term No. 2 to Mendoza, then that would be quite the silver lining.
That's why this Sunday's game could be important for the Raiders and for Lock: there could be some future implications on the line.
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