When the NFL schedule was first released, Sunday's Jets-Raiders matchup looked like a chance for David Bailey to sack Fernando Mendoza in a matchup of the top two picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But you know what they say about the best-laid plans.
The Jets listed Bailey (groin) as "doubtful," which makes him a near certainty to miss the game unless he is upgraded to questionable by Saturday. He sat out Friday's practice and wasn't even in the rehab area during the media viewing portion.
"We're going to look at [Bailey] more as a game-time decision," coach Aaron Glenn said of the No. 2 pick, who has been surging with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in the last three games.
David Bailey is doubtful to play this weekend. Getty Images
The Raiders are sticking with Kirk Cousins at quarterback despite a four-game losing streak that has increased calls to begin the Mendoza Era. The No. 1 pick completed 6 of 8 passes in mop-up duty of his lone appearance so far.
Cousins has kept Mendoza on the bench longer than some people expected — and head coach Klint Kubiak shot down the notion of any "controversy" — because he started fast with a three-game winning streak and is the NFL co-leader in touchdown passes (16) despite getting little help from the NFL's No. 31-ranked rushing attack.
As happy as the Jets are to have a franchise pass rusher, there was no doubt there was an internal sentiment hoping that the Raiders would consider trading down from No. 1 or somehow passing over the national championship-winning quarterback.
Fernando Mendoza has not yet been made the starting quarterback for the Raiders. Getty Images
General managers Darren Mougey (Jets) and John Spytek (Raiders) are old friends, but Mougey laughed at the NFL Combine when he admitted, "I don't think [a trade for No. 1] is happening." The Jets selected Bailey over linebacker Arvell Reese, who went No. 5 to the Giants.
The Jets, Raiders, Cardinals and Titans all finished with 3-14 records last season but the Raiders landed the No. 1 pick in a class with only one quarterback at the top by virtue of playing the softest schedule of the four teams.
"You saw the competitive spirit in [Mendoza] in college," Glenn said. "You saw the plays that he made — the toughness. The one thing that stands out about him as a player in general is his ability to galvanize everybody that's around him, and get people to go in the same direction he's going.
"Obviously, he has everything you want when it comes to processing and things like that — size, arm talent. Don't know if we are going to see him, but anything is possible and we'll be ready."
