Former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely considered the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft in several mock drafts. Mendoza had a historic season with the Hoosiers, leading them to both the Big Ten title and their first national championship.
Mendoza, who is also the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, had a flawless College Football Playoff as the Hoosiers’ high-powered offense cut through most teams with ease.
Raiders Eye Heisman Winner Fernando Mendoza With No. 1 Overall Pick in 2026 Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders, who hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, have been linked with a move for a franchise quarterback, and part-owner Tom Brady was at Hard Rock Stadium during the Hoosiers’ national championship game against the Miami Hurricanes to watch Mendoza.
In his latest mock draft, PFSN analyst Alec Elijah hailed Mendoza’s talent and apparent value to the Raiders should they select him on draft night.
“Fresh off a historic college career that included both a national championship and a Heisman Trophy, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza heads into the NFL Draft as one of the most decorated signal-callers available. His résumé alone makes him a compelling prospect, but his style of play offers even more intrigue for evaluators,” Elijah wrote.
“Standing 6-foot-5, he fits the physical mold teams traditionally seek in a franchise QB. Mendoza’s composure, football IQ, and locker-room presence have consistently drawn praise. His leadership played a major role in Indiana’s success and could make him an appealing option for a team like the Raiders that has been in desperate need of a QB.”
Mendoza registered 3,535 passing yards, resulting in 41 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 276 rushing yards and seven scores last season, earning himself a PFSN College QB Impact score of 93.3.
During Monday’s segment of “The Herd,” Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd raised several organizational red flags with Mendoza’s widely expected move to the Raiders via the NFL Draft.
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“I don’t worry about Fernando Mendoza; I worry about the Raiders as his parent in this league,” Cowherd said. “Bottom line, even if Klint Kubiak is a good coach, he’ll probably be the fourth-best coach in his division, and ownership is impulsive and ridiculously impatient. I don’t have a Mendoza issue; I have a Mendoza to the Raiders issue.”
“Who picks you matters a lot. I think it’s an interesting red flag. Here’s the thing, Caleb (Williams) may have struggled, but Caleb is an insane athlete. Mendoza is not even an Andrew Luck athlete.”
Last season, before he was fired, coach Pete Carroll used veteran NFL quarterback Geno Smith, who finished the season with 55 sacks, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions, behind a struggling offensive line. Mendoza is seen as the perfect franchise quarterback to replace Smith and herald Kubiak’s new regime.
