The assumption is that former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in April’s draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr called it an “easy” “no-brainer” selection for the Raiders.
However, beat reporter Nick Faria of Jets X-Factor doesn’t think it’s a slam dunk that Mendoza dons the silver and black.
“I think with a gun to my head right now, I think the Raiders will take the [offensive] tackle [Francis] Mauigoa or the best defensive player over Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders do weird crap on draft day. They have always done weird crap. I think there is a possibility that they may absolutely pass on Mendoza,” Faria explained on “The Jake Asman Show.”
“Do we know that they are not gonna be in on Kyler [Murray] or Tua [Tagovailoa] or one of these other veterans that is going to be made available? That’s number one. Number two: Who is going to be the head coach? If it’s a young offensive mind, then yeah, they will probably go Mendoza, but they are interviewing a lot of defensive candidates, too,” Faria said.
“There’s a chance that a defensive coach comes in and says, ‘I’m getting the best available player because my team stinks everywhere. I’m gonna go Arvell Reese, I’m gonna go Mauigoa, I’m gonna go Bain with the first overall selection because I’m not all in on the prospect that Mendoza is’,” Faria added.
I’m not buying it are you?
A Dream Come True for the Jets
If the Raiders punt on Mendoza, that would leave the Heisman-winning quarterback available for the Jets, who hold the No. 2 overall pick.
When Oregon quarterback Dante Moore decided to stay in school, that left the Jets with no clear long-term answer at the position this offseason.
Mendoza’s surprising availability would provide hope to a starved franchise that is desperately seeking it.
Someone on Instagram posted a video with the caption, “So down bad about to pay an Etsy witch so the Jets get Fernando Mendoza.” Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson “liked” the post, per a screenshot from the social media account Optimistic Jets.
The Idea Seems Too Good to Be True
I’m afraid this idea/thought doesn’t pass the sniff test.
Let’s play in the sandbox in which the Raiders wouldn’t want to take Mendoza with the top pick. That seems crazy considering their QB problems, but let’s pretend.
Why wouldn’t Las Vegas trade that pick for a King’s ransom?
The Jets and many other teams would line up at the possibility of trading up to land a potential franchise quarterback.
Las Vegas would be destroying the value of their top pick by sticking and picking some non-QB position.
If the Raiders traded the pick to the Jets, who hold the No. 2 overall pick, they could have their cake and eat it too.
Las Vegas could get the same player at pick No. 2 that they would get at pick No. 1. They could trade the pick to the Jets for a haul, which would include both of their first-rounders in 2026 and likely more. Then they’d hold the No. 1 overall pick of any non-QB with the second overall selection.
If a miracle is going to happen, it’ll likely require a blockbuster trade.
Beat Reporter Raises Eyebrows With Fernando Mendoza Jets Update