Raiders predicted to sign 6-foot former 49ers All-Pro receiver to help Fernando Mendoza

While it won’t be official until April, the NFL world is aware the Las Vegas Raiders will draft Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. 

The Indiana star quarterback is the most polished, NFL-ready signal caller in this year’s draft class, which should comfort Las Vegas as they begin a new era of Raiders football.

Fox Sports’ Greg Auman predicts Las Vegas will pair Mendoza with a former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro receiver in Year 1 to help him transition smoothly from college to the pros. 

“(Deebo) Samuel, 30, has seen his value decline,” Auman wrote last Thursday. “After being traded from San Francisco to Washington (Commanders), he agreed to a lesser deal worth $17 million. His one-year production for the Commanders was lackluster: 72 catches for 727 yards and five touchdowns.”

“The same player who once led the league at 18.2 yards per catch averaged a career-low 10.1 in 2025, and the versatile playmaker who once rushed for 365 yards and eight touchdowns was barely used as a ballcarrier, getting 75 yards and a single score."

"Can a creative offensive mind get more out of his skill set? Perhaps, but it's likely he'll get less this time around, closer to $12-14 million a year. Prediction: signs with Raiders."

Samuel’s 2025-26 campaign with the Commanders didn’t go as planned. Known for his versatility (ability to be highly productive as a pass catcher and make plays out of the backfield in jet-sweep situations), Samuel was expected to give the Commanders a massive offensive boost during his first season in Washington.

While the South Carolina product wasn’t horrible, he was far from a game-changer. Samuel finished the year with 72 receptions, 727 receiving yards, 75 rushing yards, and six total touchdowns. Perhaps a change of scenery and playing with a rookie QB who would likely depend on him heavily in Year 1 could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Samuel. 

Mendoza and the Raiders could certainly use a once-elite receiver like Samuel next season, making Auman’s prediction logical.

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