The Las Vegas Raiders are a couple of months away from needing to make a decision in April on who to take with the No. 1 overall pick at the 2026 NFL Draft. Nonetheless, one NFL Draft analyst believes it’s a no-brainer that Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza should be the selection.
Per StatMuse, Mendoza posted a passer rating of 182.9 with 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 16 games this season en route to leading the Hoosiers to the national title.
Although the Silver and Black will do their homework, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. believes the Raiders know they are selecting Mendoza, even though the scouting combine and the player’s pro day workout have yet to occur.
“Pretty much a lock for me,” Kiper said on the Jan. 21 edition of “Get Up.” “… I mean, this kid cracked the code like he always talked about. He was spectacular throughout the season; he cut the sack total at Cal from 41 down to 18 during the regular season. He improved in the areas he needed to. Thirty‑five starts he benefited from, experience being the best future.
“Think about the biggest games, the Big Ten Championship Game, Ohio State, the three playoff games. He’s had 10 touchdowns, only one pick, nine passing, one rushing, and a 74 percent completion percentage. This kid is ready for the NFL because he benefited from 35 starts.”
Raiders Need to Find QB in Competitive AFC West
Moreover, while the Raiders are in a rebuild and need to bolster several parts of the team to become competitive, landing the QB of the future is the first building block to begin heading in the right direction. With Las Vegas in the AFC West, which is filled with teams that have their signal-caller, Kiper believes it’s time that the Raiders have their own.
“You think about the Raiders, and that division and the AFC in general, with all those great quarterbacks, it’s a heck of a place to start,” Kiper added. “The future with Mendoza being brought in as the No. 1 pick overall for the Raiders would look bright for Raider Nation, I believe. I think this is an obvious pick. I would lock it in with Penn with exclamation points after.”
Fernando Mendoza Gets Tom Brady Message
With the 2025 college football season behind them, the Raiders now face the task of finalizing their head coach before fully committing to the draft and deciding if Mendoza should be their No. 1 overall pick in April.
ESPN college football analyst Jordan Rodgers, however, thinks Mendoza is exactly the player the Raiders should take. He also noted that Mendoza’s performance against the Miami Hurricanes reminded Tom Brady of himself.
“I think Tom Brady looks at Fernando Mendoza and sees a lot of himself, somebody that excels at being accurate and decision-making,“ Rodgers said on the Jan. 20 edition of “Get Up.“ “… Throwing accurate footballs only [gets] harder [in the NFL]. They’re only better at the next level in making faster decisions. It’s harder at the next level. You don’t suddenly become a better decision-maker. That’s why Mendoza has such a high floor.”
Mel Kiper Jr. Doesn’t Hold Back on Raiders, Fernando Mendoza