It’s hard to imagine that the Las Vegas Raiders will go through any kind of deliberation once the dust settles on the 2026 NFL Draft. If current projections hold up, the overwhelming expectation around the league seems to be that the Raiders will select Fernando Mendoza, the former quarterback at Indiana Hoosiers football, with the No. 1 pick.
The connection just keeps growing stronger in recent weeks. General manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak both showed up to attend Mendoza‘s Pro Day. Mendoza took advantage of his chances, completing 53 of 56 passes and showing comfortability operating both shotgun and under center. League belief is that the Raiders know exactly who their quarterback of the future is.
What Makes Mendoza Such An Attractive Prospect?
Mendoza is coming off a spectacular college career during which he developed into a star at Indiana after spending some time with California Golden Bears football. Mendoza had an outstanding final year, leading the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and the first-ever national championship in school history.
During the 2025 season, Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards, scored 41 touchdowns and completed six interceptions. In addition to setting the national record in QBR, registering 90.3, he managed to rush for 444 yards and score another seven touchdowns. That was enough to put him in a tie for sixth place in FBS in terms of passing and rushing yardage.
Physically speaking, the young man from Miami has all it takes to succeed at the next level. Mendoza is tall and muscular, measuring in at 6-foot-5 inches and weighing 236 pounds. His build has drawn comparisons with Josh Allen and Justin Herbert from some evaluators, even if Mendoza uses anticipation and accuracy rather than physical talent.
READ MORE: Giants Set to Host Intriguing WR Prospect Ahead of Draft
Why Mendoza and the Raiders Make Too Much Sense
By far the biggest reason why Mendoza has gained favor in the eyes of the Raiders organization is how easily he fits into the offense Kubiak runs. For starters, he is very good at operating on time and delivering passes with rhythm. Moreover, he is a big proponent of the play-action attack.
All of those things played a huge role in Mendoza being ranked as second nationally in terms of adjusted completion rate (79.2 percent). Even former NFL player and analyst Bucky Brooks came out after his Pro Day and noted how all of his throws ended up in the “strike zone” — precisely what Kubiak looks for in his quarterbacks.
Throughout his college career, he consistently proved to be a tough quarterback capable of standing in the pocket and taking hits before making plays. Former Raiders MVP Rich Gannon recently complimented Mendoza’s toughness and offensive instincts, adding to the growing praise he has been getting from around the league lately.
Of course, there are still a couple of concerns about Mendoza. For one thing, he spent a lot of time playing shotgun in college, meaning that it might take some time for him to get used to running under-center plays. Secondly, Mendoza can struggle with accuracy when he is forced off-platform or gets uncomfortable.
Still, the Raiders have had a hard time developing a franchise quarterback in quite a while now and haven’t won a playoff game since 2002. That is why the selection of Mendoza, who clearly has everything the Raiders want, comes at the perfect time. In addition to all of his qualities, Mendoza dismissed any fears of a rookie wall, saying that he “hasn’t burnt out yet.”
