Barring what can be a stunning improvement, the Las Vegas Raiders will virtually definitely make Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the primary total decide of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In fact, new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and Raiders common supervisor John Spytek have not but confirmed that they are going to seize Mendoza with the draft’s No. 1 selection. Thus, it is comprehensible that Mendoza spoke fastidiously about his future throughout Monday’s occasion associated to his receiving the Davey O’Brien Award as the highest school signal-caller for the 2025 season.
Fernando Mendoza might be “ecstatic” to land with Raiders
“I might be blessed and honored to play for the Raiders, or I might be blessed to play for any crew,” Mendoza defined, per Fox Sports. “Any NFL crew that drafts me, I might be ecstatic. I do know on the draft, I will most likely shed a tear or two simply because it is such a full-circle second for me.”
On Monday morning, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner referred to Mendoza as a “uncommon QB prospect who’s mentally and bodily powerful sufficient to deal with the ups and downs that may include beginning on a nasty crew, whereas additionally being the centerpiece as that crew grows from younger to polished.” Additionally on Monday, Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Evaluation-Journal shared that the Raiders hiring Mike McCoy as their assistant head coach needs to be a constructive because it pertains to Mendoza’s improvement.
Philip Rivers, Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning, Trevor Lawrence and 2025 rookie Cam Ward are among the many quarterbacks McCoy beforehand coached.
Fernando Mendoza displays on whirlwind 12 months
As The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman talked about, Mendoza went from being often called a “shaky starter” to the presumed prime decide of this 12 months’s NFL Draft. Few predicted 12 months in the past that Mendoza would information the Hoosiers to an ideal 16-0 document and a nationwide title.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Mendoza added. “I believe now it’s lastly settled in, and the mud has began to settle. The nationwide championship, after which growth, subsequent factor you realize, you’re on a brand new chapter.”
That new chapter will doubtless contain Mendoza being tasked with taking part in the function of franchise savior for the Raiders.
