If the Las Vegas Raiders do what most expect and take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, their next move is just as important-surrounding him with the right pieces to succeed. Drafting a franchise quarterback is only step one.
Giving him weapons? That’s how you set the foundation for long-term success.
Enter Romeo Doubs.
The soon-to-be free agent wide receiver is coming off a productive stint with the Green Bay Packers and finds himself among the most intriguing pass catchers available this offseason. And if the Raiders are serious about giving Mendoza a real shot to thrive from Day 1, Doubs makes a ton of sense.
He's not the flashiest name on the market, but Doubs brings something every young quarterback needs: reliability. He’s a route technician with a knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage and making tough catches in traffic. That kind of dependability becomes a quarterback’s best friend-especially for a rookie adjusting to NFL speed and complexity.
Vegas has a new head coach in Klint Kubiak, whose offensive philosophy leans heavily on timing, rhythm, and precision. Doubs fits that mold.
He’s not just a deep threat or a gadget guy-he’s a chain-mover, someone who can win on third down and keep drives alive. For an offense that will likely be built around a young quarterback, a dynamic running back in Ashton Jeanty, and a rising star tight end in Brock Bowers, adding Doubs could be the missing piece that ties it all together.
Financially, the Raiders are in a better position than Green Bay to make this happen. The Packers are dealing with a crowded wide receiver room that includes Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, and Dontayvion Wicks. That kind of depth makes it tough to justify shelling out top-tier money-potentially in the $20 million per year range-for Doubs, even if he’s a proven contributor.
Vegas, on the other hand, has both the cap space and the incentive. Mendoza will be on a rookie deal, which gives the Raiders a short-term financial window to invest in surrounding talent. Signing Doubs before the draft would send a clear message: they’re not just drafting a quarterback-they’re building a system around him.
And while nothing’s official yet, there’s little mystery about who the Raiders are targeting with that first overall pick. That clarity gives them the flexibility to act early in free agency, especially when it comes to securing a veteran receiver who can help ease Mendoza’s transition to the pros.
Bottom line: If the Raiders want their new era to start on the right foot, pairing Fernando Mendoza with a reliable, seasoned receiver like Romeo Doubs could be one of the smartest moves they make this offseason.