Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza At No. 1

Since they clinched the No. 1 selection in the 2026 draft, the Raiders have been expected to select their quarterback of the future. The top choice in tonight’s opening round has not produced a surprise.

Fernando Mendoza has become the first prospect to hear his name called on Thursday. He is now officially in place with Vegas, a team looking to find stability under center for years to come. Veteran Kirk Cousins was signed earlier this month in a move which allowed him to reunite with new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak. 

Kubiak will lead a coaching staff which underwent several changes this winter. 2026 marks the second offseason with general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady in the fold for the Raiders, but their one-year Pete Carroll-Geno Smith setup did not go according to plan. Carroll was expectedly fired after the season ended, while Smith was dealt to the Jets. That created the need for a new veteran (Cousins) while further paving the way for Mendoza to take on QB1 duties early in his NFL career. Even if a training camp competition ensues, Mendoza will be counted on to take over the starting gig early in his rookie year.

The Raiders released Derek Carr in 2023 and have struggled to find a permanent successor since then. Last year’s 3-14 showing set the team up to reset under center, however. Mendoza has long been the presumed pick for Vegas, with his pre-draft visit not resulting in any hesitation on the team’s part. Work including an acclimation to the offense which will be used by the Raiders this year has further pointed to today’s outcome. Mendoza will now be able to begin preparing for his Vegas career in an official capacity.

After two seasons at Cal, Mendoza transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2025 campaign. The Hoosiers had enjoyed a run to the College Football Playoff the previous year with Kurtis Rourke at the helm, and Mendoza was expected to serve as a productive replacement. To say he did so would certainly be an understatement. The 22-year-old posted 41 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions while adding seven touchdowns on the ground as Indiana went undefeated en route to winning the national championship.

His success in that historic run resulted in a number of accolades for Mendoza. Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors were received, along with the 2025 Heisman trophy. Passers have gone No. 1 after only a single season of high-end college production (as Cam Ward did last year), and Mendoza will face substantial expectations upon arrival in Vegas. Developing into a full-time starter would address an all-important roster matter for the foreseeable future.

Mendoza will join other core roster pieces like tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty on offense. The play of those first-rounders will be key in determining the success of Kubiak’s first year at the helm and the Raiders’ overall outlook well beyond 2026.