The Las Vegas Raiders had a type in mind for Fernando Mendoza, and Michael Wilson fit it cleanly.
At 6-foot-2 and more than 210 pounds, Wilson looked like the kind of physical boundary receiver who could have given this offense a different shape. He can handle a fairly complex route tree, move around the formation, and bring the kind of size that makes third-down throws and red-zone work a lot easier for a quarterback.
That possibility is gone now. Wilson has agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract extension with the Arizona Cardinals, a deal that can reach as much as $78 million and includes $47 million guaranteed at signing. Instead of being a potential target for the Raiders, he is staying in Arizona for the long haul.
The timing mattered, too. A preseason trade always felt unlikely, but Wilson could have become a realistic deadline target if the Cardinals were out of the race and the Raiders were moving further away from Kirk Cousins. Now that door is shut, and Wilson is tied to what Mike LaFleur is building in Arizona.
From a football fit standpoint, it was easy to see why Las Vegas would have liked him. The Raiders have been looking for a big-bodied receiver who can win on back-shoulder throws and make his presence felt in the red zone. Wilson checks those boxes, and he does it without the kind of physical or schematic limitations that can narrow a player’s role.
He also showed he can produce in a less-than-ideal situation. Wilson posted his first 1,000-yard season last year, doing it as the No. 3 option on a Cardinals team that was going nowhere with subpar quarterback play. He even looked more in sync at times with Jacoby Brissett than Marvin Harrison Jr. did.
That only sharpens the Raiders’ frustration. With Brock Bowers drawing attention and Mendoza needing a reliable outside target, Wilson looked like a natural answer - the sort of under-the-radar addition that could have given the offense a needed layer without breaking the bank.
Las Vegas still has the cap space and draft capital to add receiver help early in Mendoza’s NFL career. But Wilson was the cleanest match on paper, and now he’s off the board.
In Other News...
Raiders May Have Found The Young Defender Maxx Crosby Needed
Maxx Crosby is back for a new season after the Raiders failed trade attempt ran into a physical, and the attention around Las Vegas has quickly shifted to who can help take some of the pressure off its best defender. One name getting notice from ESPN analysts is rookie safety Treydan Stukes, an under-the-radar pick who has quietly pushed his way into the conversation as a possible contributor on a defense that needs more reliable pieces around Crosby.
Stukes has been working with the first-team defense, and that alone suggests the Raiders are serious about finding ways to use him early. His value may come from versatility, with the coaching staff expected to move him around the scheme rather than limit him to one clean role, which is often how young defenders earn trust in Las Vegas. If he keeps trending in that direction, the Raiders may have found the kind of support piece Crosby needs to keep the defense from leaning too hard on him. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Took One Waiver Chance And It Says Plenty About This Secondary
The Raiders dipped into the waiver wire for a secondary add, claiming cornerback Darrell Luter Jr. after his release from San Francisco. A former fifth-round pick, Luter brought enough preseason momentum to keep his name in circulation, and Las Vegas appears to view him first as a special teams asset while also giving the defense another body in the back end.
For a roster that has already shown a need to keep shoring up depth, the move says as much about roster management as it does about Luter himself. Assistant general manager Brian Stark pointed to his experience and special teams ability as the main reasons for the pickup, which makes this less about a headline-grabbing splash and more about a practical bet on a player who can help in multiple phases while learning the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders QB Battle Just Sent A Clear Message To Fernando Mendoza
The Raiders quarterback picture has a clear pecking order for now, and it includes Fernando Mendoza having to wait his turn. General manager John Spytek recently praised Mendozas work ethic, but also made it plain that the rookie will not be handed the job right away, underscoring that Las Vegas wants a real competition for snaps rather than a fast track based on potential alone.
For Mendoza, that is the kind of message young quarterbacks hear early and often, but it still lands with some weight when it comes from the front office. The Raiders are signaling that preparation matters, depth chart spots have to be earned, and the path to playing time this season will be shaped by the way the room performs once the reps start being handed out. [Read more 🡒]