Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza essentially cemented himself as the best quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft class with his five-touchdown performance against the Oregon Ducks in the College Football Playoff. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick, so it’s looking close to a lock that he’ll be playing with them next season.
A star quarterback can turn a franchise around overnight, but the Raiders have a lot of other needs. The only position group that looks solid heading into 2026 is the tight ends. Solving the quarterback position is the most important piece of the puzzle, but former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert thinks it’s a bad idea for the Raiders to select Mendoza this year.
“I think Mendoza is an operator. Efficient, accurate, and can move the chains with his legs just enough. I DON’T think he can go to Vegas #1 overall and make them competitive in a stacked AFC West. I personally think they will need a quarterback with higher athletic upside to have a shot in the next 2-3 years to flip anything (the timeline it takes to not get a new coach fired). However – he reminds me of a mix between Sam Darnold and Jared Goff,” Benkert wrote on X.
“I think Mendoza in the right situation could be a great point guard type of player. Maybe even Brees like if all goes well. The most important thing the Raiders can do is get the right coach and get the right pieces to build a strong ROSTER, not hope a rookie QB pans out. This is not an indictment on Mendoza – I think he’s a solid player, I just think the opportunity cost of what a value of the #1 overall pick holds in trade value or in a potential generational freak at other positions is more than what Mendoza brings to them versus what they could get via trade or free agency.”
Raiders Don’t Need Mobile QB
Before the Raiders have hired a head coach, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to suggest what type of quarterback the team needs. Say they hire Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak – wouldn’t he want a quarterback who is getting compared to Sam Darnold?
There’s no reason to suggest the Raiders need a mobile quarterback right now. Tom Brady is going to have a big voice in the quarterback search, and he never rushed for more than 110 yards in a season.
Benkert’s Line of Thinking Doesn’t Make Much Sense
Yes, the Raiders have myriad needs all over the roster. Trading the No. 1 pick for a haul isn’t the worst idea ever.
That said, the Raiders haven’t used a first-round pick on a quarterback since 2007. Mendoza is about as clean as a prospect gets. No, he’s not going to run a 4.4 40-yard dash, but he’s smart, has a good arm and is an excellent leader.
There are far worse prospects the Raiders can bet on. Every position has bust potential. Tyree Wilson looked like a future star coming out of Texas Tech, but now he can barely get on the field. It’s possible Mendoza isn’t a great NFL quarterback, but nobody is going to fault the Raiders for taking a chance.
Raiders Warned Against Drafting Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza