The Raiders' Interest in Fernando Mendoza

With the 2026 NFL Draft fast approaching, the Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to use the No. 1 overall pick to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza solidified his status as the draft's premier prospect after a stellar 2025 campaign, where he led Indiana to an undefeated national championship season and secured the Heisman Trophy.

The 22-year-old quarterback demonstrated remarkable efficiency throughout the year. He completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak recently praised the prospect, stating, “He’s a national champion, he’s winner, he’s accurate, he's quick, he's strong, he's tall, he's intelligent.”

Development Philosophy for Rookie Quarterbacks

Despite the high praise, Kubiak expressed a preference for not starting a rookie quarterback immediately. He noted that in an ideal scenario, a young signal-caller would benefit from learning behind a veteran player before taking the field.

“Ideally, you don't want him to start from day one,” Kubiak explained. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. Like I said before, it doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from day one, and it's our job as a coach to get them ready to go.”

Building the Roster Around a New Signal-Caller

The Raiders have been active in free agency to bolster the team, signing several linebackers and edge rushers, as well as wide receiver Jalen Nailor. Most notably, the team signed center Tyler Linderbaum to a record-setting contract to solidify the offensive line.

While the team still seeks depth at the safety position and additional receiver talent, these moves are designed to support a young quarterback. The team is also exploring options to add a veteran quarterback to the roster to complement Aidan O’Connell.

Evaluating Mendoza at Pro Day

The Raiders' front office and coaching staff are continuing their due diligence ahead of the draft. They are scheduled to attend Mendoza’s pro day at Indiana this Wednesday. Mendoza opted to skip throwing at the NFL Combine to showcase his skills alongside his college teammates.

Kubiak emphasized the value of the pro day experience, noting the importance of observing a player's demeanor under pressure. “Just seeing what their demeanor is like in a pressure situation is valuable,” Kubiak said regarding the upcoming evaluation.