Last year’s NFL Draft was heavily criticized due to the lack of elite talent. In the first round, Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart were selected. Dart, in particular, was viewed as a second- or third-round talent, but with the New York Giants he has proven to be a great player, showing the team was right to trade up and select him with the 25th overall pick.
Heading into the next Draft, expectations were sky-high. Analysts raved about several quarterbacks, with all attention focused on Arch Manning, Drew Allar, and Cade Klubnik, all expected to battle for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, none of them will be. They were all surpassed by a previously unknown name who is now more famous than ever: Fernando Mendoza.
Fernando Mendoza led the Indiana Hoosiers through an unexpected run to the national championship, where they defeated the University of Miami. While his numbers were not eye-popping, he did what was necessary to take Indiana to the top and earned the Heisman Trophy in the process. Now, he enters the Draft as the top overall prospect.
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The Raiders were truly warned
The team holding the first overall pick in the upcoming Draft will be the Las Vegas Raiders, who desperately need a quarterback after their trade for Geno Smith with the Seattle Seahawks turned into a complete failure. Unless something unexpected happens, the Raiders are expected to select Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s quarterback.
Few imagined Mendoza would be the No. 1 overall pick, which is why questions have emerged. One of the most notable criticisms came from former NFL running back LeSean McCoy, who spoke about the risks of selecting the Indiana quarterback:
“When I watch [Mendoza] though. When I watch the player. The eye test. I want everyone to hear what I’m saying. You can always get better. But the eye test? Don’t tell me… he’s the No. 1 pick overall.”
During the season, Fernando Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards, with 41 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions, numbers that pale in comparison to historic quarterback seasons such as Joe Burrow’s final year at LSU. That is why doubts remain about Mendoza. Still, the Raiders have little choice but to draft him and focus on developing his talent.
That responsibility would fall to Klint Kubiak, currently the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, who-after winning the Super Bowl-is expected to be named the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.
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