When was Fernando Mendoza drafted?

Fernando Mendoza was drafted with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23rd.

Why was Mendoza drafted 1st overall?

Mendoza led Indiana to an undefeated season, winning the national championship and the Heisman Trophy along the way.

How long will Mendoza's contract be?

Mendoza will have a standard 4-year contract, with a 5th-year option that the team can pick up down the line.

What's next for the Raiders?

With their new franchise quarterback secured, the Raiders move on to the next two days of the draft, where they have 9 total picks.

Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza: Indiana's Heisman Hero Heads to LV

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FSM Breaking News: Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza – 2026

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With the first pick in the NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders officially selected Fernando Mendoza, securing their new franchise quarterback and giving Raider Nation a reason to celebrate.

Las Vegas Raiders (Las Vegas, NV). It was the worst-kept secret in the entire NFL, but the Las Vegas Raiders have officially drafted former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Ever since securing the top pick, Mendoza was heavily rumored to be the pick, with the Silver & Black in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. After suffering through a season that saw former starting quarterback Geno Smith lead the league in interceptions thrown, new head coach Klint Kubiak will look to turn the team around with Mendoza at the helm.

Leading up to the draft, there were a few rumors that teams had called general manager John Spytek to attempt to trade for the first overall pick. However, Spytek was firm and rebuked the offers, opting to keep the selection. He and Kubiak went through a long process, scouting Mendoza thoroughly, with owner Mark Davis and minority owner Tom Brady heading to Miami to watch Mendoza win the National Championship.

With Mendoza added to the team, the Raiders are looking to rebuild and improve after several trying seasons. He’ll join a quarterback room that includes Aidan O’Connell and free agent addition Kirk Cousins. Kubiak and Spytek have been vocal about wanting a veteran to start at the beginning of the season, so expect Cousins to start for at least a few weeks while he mentors Mendoza and gets him prepared to take over as the team’s leader.

Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza: Where’s He Been?

Fernando Mendoza was a 2-star recruit out of high school and received no FBS scholarship offers. After originally committing to play football for Yale, he later flipped to the University of California, Berkeley. After redshirting his freshman year, he got his first start as a sophomore. He finished the year with just over 1,700 passing yards to go along with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He would lead the team to the Independence Bowl, where the Golden Bears lost to Texas Tech.

Mendoza would go on to win the starting job in his next season, racking up just over 3,000 passing yards with 16 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He was named ACC Quarterback of the Week in back-to-back weeks after beating Oregon State and Wake Forest, respectively. After finishing the season at 6-6, Cal’s season would end with a 24-13 loss to UNLV in the LA Bowl. He then entered the transfer portal, where he committed to Indiana.

As a Hoosier, Mendoza set the college football world on fire. He torched the Big 10, leading the nation with 41 touchdown passes while throwing 6 interceptions. He finished the regular season undefeated before winning the Big 10 Title against Ohio State. In the College Football Playoffs, he knocked off Alabama and Oregon before winning the National Championship against Miami, giving Indiana an undefeated season and cementing his status as the #1 pick.

Raiders Draft Fernando Mendoza: What’s Next?

After landing their franchise quarterback, the Las Vegas Raiders turn their attention to building around Mendoza. Despite their free agency spending spree, there are still lots of holes on the roster to fill. The Raiders are armed with 9 picks over the next two days, but that doesn’t mean they’ll add that many players. John Spytek would be wise to package a few of those picks together in a trade to either move up and grab a coveted player or grab a player from an opposing team.

As for what positions the Raiders should look at, expect many additions on offense. Tyler Linderbaum, the NFL’s new highest-paid center, was added via free agency to help stabilize the offensive line. However, the Raiders are still in need of interior offensive linemen. Expect them to target a guard or two, but also look for a receiver and a running back. Ashton Jeanty needs a running mate, and Mendoza will need more weapons to throw to.

Defensively, Maxx Crosby is perennially in need of a running mate as well. Despite past attempts to add an edge rusher to complement his skill set, the Raiders have failed to do so. In addition, the Raiders’ secondary was a significant issue last season. A safety, cornerback, or hybrid should be added as well, contributing to a new-look defense primed for improvement.

The next two days will give Raider Nation a clear idea of how Klint Kubiak wants to build the team. Regardless of who gets drafted, the Raiders seem to be on the right track, with smart free-agent signings and the addition of Mendoza giving fans reason to be optimistic. After the draft, it’ll be time for training camp, where Kubiak will get his first look at the newest members of the Silver & Black and fill out his depth chart. For now, Las Vegas can get ready to welcome its new quarterback and celebrate the franchise’s new direction.