Raiders draft new centerpiece QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall

The 22-year-old becomes the centerpiece of a franchise rebuild following his own meteoric rise, culminating in the Hoosiers claiming a football national title for the first time in program history.

Las Vegas went 3-14 last season and fired Pete Carroll as head coach, which prompted a change at quarterback under first-time head coach Klint Kubiak. The Raiders traded starter Geno Smith to the Jets and signed Kirk Cousins to bridge any potential gap for Mendoza to be deemed ready for the QB1 role.

General manager John Spytek and Kubiak said their "perfect world" would allow for Mendoza to be worked into the starting role gradually. Considered a cerebral field general more than a physical freak or elite specimen at quarterback, Mendoza has already openly discussed the presence of a priceless sounding board in Las Vegas: minority franchise owner Tom Brady. He read the "TB12 Method" book before the NFL Scouting Combine in preparation for a potential interaction with Brady.

That didn't come until he took his official team visit to meet the team's top brass.

"Everything that he's all about is something that I've always emulated as a football player," Mendoza said in February. "And anything the coaching staff has as coaching points, like, ‘Hey Fernando, we need you to get better at this, this and that,' I'm gonna be like, ‘Hey Tom, how do I get better at this, this and that?' If I get selected by Mr. Spytek and the Raiders, if that does happen, it'd be a great opportunity."

Mendoza is the first No. 1 pick for the Raiders since drafting LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell in 2007. The Raiders haven't won a postseason game since the 2002 playoffs and have earned only two trips (2016, 2021) since losing Super Bowl XXXVII to the Buccaneers. The Raiders also last won the AFC West division in 2002.

All of the losses have placed the Raiders in position to stock the roster with blue-chip talent in the draft. Tight end Brock Bowers (13th pick, 2024) made a record-setting splash in his first season with 112 catches for 1,194 yards. Running back Ashton Jeanty (sixth overall pick, 2025) had 10 touchdowns last season despite being an easy target behind a ragtag offensive line.

Spytek insists a 180 turn by the Raiders from 3-14 in 2025 won't be about one player or position. Las Vegas entered Thursday with 10 total draft picks and was next slated to pick at No. 36 overall, the fourth pick in the second round on Friday.

The Raiders have numerous position needs after averaging 14.2 points and allowing 25.4 points per game in 2025. The climb can be steep. As a team, the Raiders scored 40 fewer touchdowns (25) than the Rams. But the Washington Commanders and New England Patriots are living testaments to what a franchise-caliber quarterback can bring to a team.

The Commanders selected Jayden Daniels in 2024 and advanced to the NFC Championship during his rookie season. New England was in the Super Bowl in February with Drake Maye, the quarterback drafted one spot after Daniels, playing at an MVP level in a rapid rebuild.

Mendoza had 41 touchdown passes and six interceptions for Indiana last season, completing 72% of his passes to post a perfect 16-0 record not many outside the program saw coming. Indiana entered the season with the most losses in FBS history (715).

Here are the rest of the 32 picks on the first day of the 2026 NFL Draft:

2. New York Jets: David Bailey, edge, Texas Tech. Bailey transfered to Texas Tech from Stanford ahead of the 2025 season and spearheaded a vicious Red Raider defensive front that helped lead his squad to the college football playoff. He was one of the top sack men in college football and is now headed to play for former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn in New York. 

3. Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame. Love is one of the top players in the draft but a running back going so high is always notable. Love is now the highest running back selection since Saquon Barkley. And the former Notre Dame star heads to a Cardinals team that's certainly hitting a reset under new coach Mike LaFleur (who is a Central Michigan graduate).

4. Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State. Tate will likely be a good weapon to add for Cam Ward. That's five straight years with a first-round receivers picked from Ohio State, a streak that's sure to go to six next year with Jeremiah Smith.

5. New York Giants: Arvell Reese, edge/LB, Ohio State. Reese is projected to make a move to edge rusher full time and this is about the most John Harbaugh pick of all time, getting the good football player who fell past a few others because of doubts about position, that Reese is a "tweener."

6. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU. The Chiefs moved up for cornerback Mansoor Delane. Kansas City sent third and fifth-round picks to Cleveland to move up three spots and secure another talented piece for an improving secondary.

7. Washington Commanders: LB Sonny Syles, Ohio State. "Styles is an attacking linebacker with excellent anticipation who thrives when playing downhill," PFF wrote in Lyles' scouting report. "His movement skills are strong, though his experience in coverage is still developing."

8. New Orleans Saints: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State. "He has experience and success both inside and outside and is one of the better intermediate route runners in this class," PFF wrote of the Sun Devils standout.

9. Cleveland Browns: OT Spencer Fano, Utah.

10. New York Giants: OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami

11. Dallas Cowboys: S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

12. Miami Dolphins: OT Kadyn Proctor

13. Los Angeles Rams: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

14. Baltimore Ravens: OG Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami

16. New York Jets: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

17. Detroit Lions: OT Blake Miller, Clemson

18. Minnesota Vikings: DT Caleb Banks, Florida

19. Carolina Panthers: OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

20. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Makai Lemon, USC

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State

22. Los Angeles Chargers: EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami

23. Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Malachi Lawrence, UCF

24. Cleveland Browns: WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

25. Chicago Bears: S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon

26. Houston Texans: G Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech

27. Miami Dolphins: CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State

28. New England Patriots: OT Caleb Lomu, Utah

29. Kansas City Chiefs: DT Peter Woods, Clemson

30. New York Jets: WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

31. Titans: DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

32. Seattle Seahawks: RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame