When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck in the NFL, the Las Vegas Raiders might just be the league's savviest operators. General manager John Spytek and his front office have quietly assembled a roster that features two of the top 12 most valuable contracts in the entire league—and neither one belongs to a superstar defensive end or a Pro Bowl offensive lineman. They belong to quarterbacks.
Coming into the offseason with one of the largest salary cap pools in football, the Raiders had plenty of financial flexibility. They used it wisely, shoring up their defense and reinforcing the offensive line. But how did they manage to make all those moves while also keeping a generational talent like Maxx Crosby on the payroll? The answer is simple: they weren't handcuffed by a massive quarterback contract.
While the Raiders don't currently have an elite, high-priced signal-caller commanding a king's ransom, they do have something almost as valuable—two quarterbacks on incredibly team-friendly deals. According to NFL Media's Nick Shook, both Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell rank among the top 12 best contract values in the league. That's right—the Raiders have a pair of quarterbacks outperforming their paychecks, and Shook has them both ranked ahead of notable names like J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr.
O'Connell, a fourth-round pick, offers exceptional value thanks to his minimal salary combined with proven starting experience and actual wins under center. Then there's Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Playoff National Champion, who was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His legendary season at Indiana—highlighted by a clutch fourth-down touchdown run in the title game—has him poised for NFL success, even if he's being brought along slowly behind veteran Kirk Cousins.
For a team building toward sustained success, having two quarterbacks on bargain contracts isn't just lucky—it's a strategic masterstroke. The Raiders are proving that you don't need a superstar salary to get superstar value.