‘Had that position before, and it didn’t work out’

Despite Davis’ choice to play coy, there’s no secret to keep in Las Vegas. The entire football world expects the Raiders to spend the selection on Indiana quarterback and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, supplying Las Vegas with the franchise quarterback it has sought since the final months of the Derek Carr era.

Still, as Davis noted, there’s no guarantee Mendoza will work out.

With this in mind, Davis’ chosen leadership duo of general manager John Spytek and coach Klint Kubiak have worked diligently through the spring to improve the Raiders’ roster. Las Vegas overspent to lure center Tyler Linderbaum to Nevada, added former 49ers guard Spencer Burford to the starting offensive line, signed receiver Jalen Nailor and swiftly rebuilt the team’s linebacking corps with a new trio of Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean and Kwity Paye.

At minimum, the Raiders should expect to perform better up front, protecting Mendoza (or a veteran bridge option, a role Kubiak said Tuesday he still wants to fill this offseason) in an improved fashion they couldn’t afford to last offseason’s big acquisition, veteran quarterback Geno Smith.

There’s still work to accomplish, though. With three picks in the first 67 selections and six in the first 150 choices, Las Vegas has ample ammunition to keep building. The Raiders are also beaming after managing to retain star edge rusher Maxx Crosby following their failed attempt to trade him to Baltimore.

“As I said, I never wanted Maxx to leave, so I’m glad that he’s back and I’m glad that we got Tyler Linderbaum,” Davis said. “So I think we got out of that pretty well.”

Things are looking up in Las Vegas. Hopefully, as it once did during Russell’s disastrous tenure with the Silver and Black, it doesn’t end with heads hung in disappointment.