Vegas sticks with Heisman winner

Project Fernando Mendoza is well underway with the Raiders, with the club working around the clock to build a strong infrastructure for its soon-to-be rookie quarterback, even before he sets foot in the building.

That day is right around the corner, and preparation for it means the Raiders are spending more than $280 million in guaranteed contracts to improve their offensive line with the addition of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, at wide receiver with the signing of former Vikings speedster Jalen Nailor and significant defensive improvements — not only by adding four new starters but also by creating big-time upgrades in each case.

With the heavy lifting pretty much complete in free agency, they turn their attention to the NFL draft, where they hold 10 selections, including the first overall pick and picks at or near the top of every round thereafter.

Nailing the draft would put a bow on what appears to be the club’s best offseason in years.

Here is how we see the first three rounds playing out for the Raiders:

Round 1, No. 1

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

The Raiders have been searching for their franchise-caliber quarterback for years. Whether they won meaningless games at the end of meaningless seasons to keep them out of the draft range for a top prospect, or passed on quarterbacks including Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love and Jalen Hurts over the years, they always came up empty.

Finally, the football powers that be are looking out for them. After finishing in a four-way tie for the NFL’s worst record, a quirky tiebreaker pushed the Raiders all the way to the top pick in the draft.

Given that only one quarterback in this draft projects as a can’t-miss prospect, it can’t be overstated how fortuitous that tiebreaker turned out to be.

Mendoza may not be a Day 1 starter, but it’s only a matter of time before the Indiana Heisman Trophy winner gets the call to lead the Raiders out of the darkness. A million variables will determine whether he’s capable of eventually carrying the Silver and Black back to Super Bowl prominence, but if this offseason is any indication, the Raiders are determined to maximize their new asset and not be the reason he falls short.

Round 2, No. 36

Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

The Raiders added Nailor in free agency, and he’ll provide speed and versatility, primarily out of the slot, to complement tight end Brock Bowers, the Raiders’ top receiving target.

Veteran Tre Tucker should fit in nicely in Klint Kubiak’s offense, and there is hope that Jack Bech and Dont’e Thornton Jr. take significant steps forward in their second seasons.

But the Raiders need a big, physical X receiver type, and they catch a break when Boston takes a bit of a draft night tumble and falls into their laps in the second round.

Boston is scheduled to visit with the Raiders this weekend in Las Vegas, so he is clearly on their radar. He’s one of the true X receivers and is coming off a season in which he had 62 catches for 881 yards and tied for the ninth-most touchdown catches in the FBS with 11.

He is also a willing and effective blocker, which is critical in Kubiak’s offense and a must when it comes to maximizing young running back Ashton Jeanty.

Round 3, No. 67

Domonique Orange, DL, Iowa State

The Raiders got busy remaking their defense in free agency, trading for slot cornerback Taron Johnson, signing linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean and edge rusher Kwity Paye, and re-signing cornerback Eric Stokes.

They also got defensive end Maxx Crosby back when the Ravens nixed a trade for him on a failed physical.

One area they didn’t address was nose tackle, and with new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard making a move to a base 3-4 defense, the Raiders need a space-eating interior defensive lineman capable of making plays in the backfield and eating double teams to create space for Walker and Dean to make plays.

At 6-foot-2, 322 pounds, Orange is a prototypical nose tackle. He doesn’t add much as a pass rusher, which is why he could be available in the third round, but as an early-down run stopper and double-team eater, he’d fill a big role for the Raiders and help free up Walker and Dean.

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