As the Las Vegas Raiders prepare to head into the 2026 NFL Draft with the No. 1 overall pick, there’s a bigger discussion to be had regarding what Las Vegas does after the first pick.
It’s hard to see a reality where the Raiders don’t draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick. He helped the Hoosiers win their first national championship in program history and finish the 2025 season with a 16-0 record.
“We were never supposed to be in this position,” Mendoza said. “By the glory of God, the great coaches, great teammates, everybody we had around us, we were able to pull this off.”
Now, as the Raiders seemingly prepare for life with Mendoza under center, one fan asked Raiders Digital Team Reporter Levi Edwards about his thoughts on the possibility of the Raiders pairing Mendoza with wide receiver and Indiana teammate, Omar Cooper Jr.
Raiders Could Pair Fernando Mendoza with Omar Cooper Jr.
GettyFernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates with Omar Cooper Jr. #3 of the Indiana Hoosiers after a touchdown in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Cooper Jr. had a career year catching passes from Mendoza, with 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns during the 2025 season. With the Raiders needing help at wide receiver, he could be a sneaky good draft option for Las Vegas.
“What’s impressive about Cooper is his strength at the point of attack, which allows him to make big catches in extremely tight coverage,” Edwards wrote. “His high football IQ also allows him to find open spaces in zone coverage. Considering the Raiders could draft Cooper’s college quarterback with the No. 1 pick, it makes him a logical target for Las Vegas with a Day 2 pick – if Cooper declares. By the way, stop what you’re doing and watch his game-winning touchdown catch against Penn State this season. It’s pretty epic.”
Despite not declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft yet, Cooper Jr. is considered one of the top wide receiver prospects. Along with his chemistry with Mendoza, it should be an easy decision for the Raiders.
Cooper Jr. Given Christian Kirk Comparison
For a better idea of how Cooper Jr. fairs as a wide receiver in the NFL, Fox Sports draft analyst Rob Rang compared him to Houston Texans WR Christian Kirk:
“There is no denying that the key to the Hoosiers’ passing attack is their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, but Cooper is the sort of dynamic athlete that makes life easier for any signal-caller. Boasting a compact build (6-0, 204 pounds), the redshirt junior is a natural playmaker with more touchdowns scored (21) than games started (17). Though he’s averaged 15.7 yards gained over his 110 career receptions, Cooper is perhaps most effective on underneath routes, such as quick-screens and drags, where his vision, shiftiness and relatively low center of gravity help create yards after the catch.”
When it mattered most, Cooper Jr. was clutch for Mendoza and helped Indiana win their first national championship. Soon, he could be catching passes from Mendoza, but this time, in Silver and Black.
Raiders Could Look to Pair Fernando Mendoza With Familiar Face