The Raiders did Thursday what most of the football world had suspected they’d do since the NFL season ended, picking Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement at the NFL draft in Pittsburgh, just outside the Steelers’ stadium.
Mendoza becomes the Raiders’ next hope to fix a quarterback problem they’ve been unable to solve since Derek Carr left after a Pro Bowl season in 2022. They’ve started seven quarterbacks in the three years since then: Aidan O’Connell, Brian Hoyer, Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardner Minshew, Desmond Ridder, Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett. They’ve gone through four coaches in that same time period: Josh McDaniels, Antonio Pierce, Pete Carroll, and, as of February, former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
The Bears asked Caleb Williams to solve an even more dramatic quarterback drought two years ago, picking him first overall. While he set the franchise’s single season passing yards record last year, Williams will have to prove to the Bears this upcoming season that he’s their franchise quarterback. They’ll have the chance to reciprocate; per league rules, they can offer him a contract extension once the season ends.
While a shoo-in to be the No. 1 pick, Mendoza isn’t as lauded as the USC star was when he entered the 2024 draft. Mendoza, like Miami quarterback Cam Ward a year ago, has the same task as Williams — to justify their No. 1 overall selection and turn around a losing franchise. Williams took an important first step last year, leading the Bears to a playoff win for the first time in 15 years. Amazingly, the Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since the end of the 2002 season, when they eventually lost in the Super Bowl to the Buccaneers. They’ve made the playoffs just twice since.
Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship with the Hoosiers this year, watched the draft from Coral Gables, Florida.
After Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey was drafted second by the Jets, Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love was taken third by the Cardinals. Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate was a surprise choice of the Titans at No. 4. The Chicago-born Tate attended Marist before spending the last two years of his high school career at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He was the second receiver drafted in the top four this past decade.
After the Giants took Ohio State edge rusher Arvell Reese fifth, the Chiefs traded up and took LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane sixth overall. They sent the ninth pick and selections in Round 3 and 5 to the Browns.
The Bears selected Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall Thursday night.
