The 2026 NFL Combine is being held this week in Indianapolis. Let’s look at some key aspects for the team to focus on during the week:
Fernando Mania:
The Raiders, of course, will be a focal point of the combine because they own the No. 1 overall pick in the April draft. They are fully expected to use the pick on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. His every move at the combine will be closely watched even though he’s not expected to throw this week. But the Heisman Trophy winner should be in Indy and he will talk to the Raiders and the media. It will be a storyline of the week.
The phone will be ringing:
Even though the combine is supposed to be about the draft, the truth is, the rest of the roster is a bigger focus in Indianapolis for two reasons — all of the teams are in a small downtown together for a week and the roster-changing period of the offseasons happens before the draft. So, Raiders’ general manager John Spytek will be busy. Not only will we likely get calls about the No. 1 pick, but the Maxx Crosby trade talks could intensify during the combine as well. Expect the rumor mill to churn relentlessly during the next week.
Free-agent chatter:
Teams can agree with free agents from other teams on March 9. That’s coming up very soon. Indy is always a free-agent jumping off point. Yes, it is against league rules, but tampering is rampant every season and this year will be no different. The Raiders will have close to $100 million in salary-cap room and amongst the most cap room in the NFL. Plus, they have plenty of holes to fill. Their plan for free agency will take shape this week.
Get to know the kids:
Yes, the draft can get lost in the shuffle at the combine because of the more pressing business of the offseason, there will be plenty of draft work to get done. In addition to the on-field work, the interview process in a huge part of the combine week. The Raiders are expected to have up to 10 draft picks and could acquire more with trades. The draft is a foundation of the rebuild for Spytek. So, getting a feel for the draft class is paramount this week.