Fernando Mendoza is widely considered to be one of the best overall prospects in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Many have him ranked as the top quarterback and are predicting him to be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the number-one pick. A former quarterback doesn’t expect a bright outlook for this potential situation.
Fernando Mendoza’s Potential Outlook for Raiders Doubted by Former QB
Mendoza is currently the favorite to be picked by the Raiders with the first-overall selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The franchise is in desperate need of a quarterback, and are currently rebuilding as a whole, so it makes sense for them to potentially target the quarterback that just won the Heisman Trophy.
Former quarterback Kurt Benkert recently shared his thoughts on the potential situation of the Indiana Hoosiers’ superstar potentially landing in Las Vegas. He expressed pessimism that it would all work out as they had hoped.
“Mendoza won’t save the Raiders at number-one overall, I’ll tell you that much so far,” stated Benkert.
It’s unclear whether Benkert is doubting Mendoza’s ability to be a franchise-changing quarterback or if he is referencing the fact that the Raiders likely need much more help than simply a quarterback to get things going back in the right direction. Their disastrous 2025 NFL season included head coach Pete Carroll lasting just one year before being fired, and quarterback Geno Smith failing to meet the expectations that came with his acquisition.
The moves they made prior to the start of the year were intended to bring them closer to being legitimate contenders, but they instead took a step backward. Now they must essentially start over again with a new head coach, but at least they have the luxury of the first overall pick in the draft. One of the best ways to quickly turn things around is by finding a superstar rookie quarterback, and Mendoza could be precisely that.
In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy for the 2025 college football season, he also ranks second among all quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings for this year. He has helped Indiana to an undefeated record entering the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs, and they are currently the favorites to win the National Championship.
His stock couldn’t get much higher as a prospect, and while that surely doesn’t guarantee success in the NFL, it has justifiably made him the consensus number-one overall pick this year by most covering the league and the draft. He could tell exactly what the Raiders need, though Benkert has his doubts.