Mendoza and the Raiders: draft day looms
Mendoza had a historic 2025 college season. He led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 record and a national championship over Miami. As a result, he walked away with the Heisman Trophy — the sport’s highest individual honor.
In the title game, he threw for 186 yards and scored the decisive rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Moreover, his regular season numbers were equally staggering: 3,535 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions. His QBR of 90.3 led the entire nation.
Consequently, Mendoza sits atop every major draft board as the clear QB1. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, he has the size, arm, and pedigree franchises dream about.
Las Vegas has made up their mind
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the first overall pick. Furthermore, they have made their intentions crystal clear. According to insider Jason La Canfora, the Raiders are rebuffing all trade offers. Other teams reportedly view the pick as “virtually unattainable.”
The fit, however, makes sense on paper. Las Vegas already has building blocks around the future quarterback. Tight end Brock Bowers is one of the best young pass-catchers in the league. Second-year running back Ashton Jeanty provides an immediate ground threat. Meanwhile, new head coach Klint Kubiak brings an offensive-minded approach that should suit Mendoza’s strengths.
Not everyone is convinced
Despite the excitement, there are real questions about Mendoza’s game. Under pressure, his completion percentage dropped to just 50%. He also struggled when forced outside the pocket — a concern at the next level.
Additionally, he took only 3% of his snaps under center in college, playing almost exclusively from the shotgun. That is a significant adjustment he will need to make in the NFL.
Some analysts are not sold on using the pick at all. FS1’s Danny Parkins has argued the Raiders should trade down instead. In his view, Mendoza’s ceiling resembles Jared Goff — solid, but not necessarily a franchise-changing talent given all of Las Vegas’ roster needs.
A thin quarterback class
Beyond Mendoza, the 2026 QB class is widely considered below average. There is a steep drop-off after him, which only increases the pressure on teams chasing a signal-caller. As a result, the Raiders feel even less inclined to move off their spot.
For the rest of the class, offensive tackle is the deepest position. Francis Mauigoa from Miami and Spencer Fano from Utah lead that group. At tight end, meanwhile, Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is the unanimous top prospect across all major boards.
What to watch
The draft kicks off April 23 in Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, the story of the night already seems written: Mendoza in a Raiders hat, stepping to the podium. The only question left is whether he lives up to the hype.
