The Las Vegas Raiders are one loss away from securing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft ahead of their Week 18 game against the Kansas City Chiefs on January 4 at Allegiant Stadium.
While there’s not much to be excited about with the Silver and Black, that could change if they lose to the Chiefs. A loss would allow them the opportunity to select Indiana Hoosiers QB and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
Moreover, one anonymous NFL assistant general manager believes Las Vegas could have young building blocks that could allow the team to be successful in the future should it land Mendoza.
“Would love to see [Mendoza] in Vegas,” the anonymous assistant general manager told NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who published the quote on X on January 2. “[Brock] Bowers [and] [Ashton] Jeanty are a great young supporting cast, and the big thing for me is what they do with coaching. Find the right young offensive minded HC and that’s a team that has a foundation.”
On January 1, ESPN’s college football insider Pete Thamel reported that the Indiana star is expected to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft after his season is over.
“The widespread expectation in the NFL is that Mendoza is going to go pro after the season,” Thamel said. “He obviously just won the Heisman Trophy. To replace him, I’ve been told Indiana is expected to target Josh Hoover, the former TCU quarterback.”
The Raiders Want Fernando Mendoza
Moreover, for CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, it appears as though Mendoza is the guy that the Raiders want to take if they can secure the No. 1 pick.
“They are thrilled today that they have the No. 1 overall pick,” Prisco said on the December 28 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “They sat Maxx Crosby down. You think he wanted to play today? Of course he did. Why did you sit him down? You’re tanking. You want the No. 1 overall pick. Well, they got it. Right now, they have it.
“You think they’re going to beat the Chiefs next week? No matter what happens, they’re not beating the Chiefs. They want Fernando Mendoza. They’re going to get Fernando Mendoza. They’re going to have the No. 1 overall pick, and they’re going to cure their quarterback problem.”
Is Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza Locked to Go No. 1?
Furthermore, ESPN college football analyst Jordan Rodgers believes the No. 1 pick will be Mendoza. Whether the Raiders select him remains to be seen, depending on how their game against the Chiefs plays out.
“I sat on here really the last month or so, and every time we’ve talked about Fernando Mendoza and Dante Moore, I’ve said, ‘Look, I lean towards Dante Moore; I think he’s got bigger upside,’” Rodgers said on the January 2 edition of “Get Up.”
“That changed [on January 1]. Watching this game for Fernando Mendoza, he was surgical. There’s one thing that’s a non-negotiable at the NFL: you have to be able to be accurate, especially downfield, under pressure. Alabama threw everything they had at Fernando Mendoza, and he didn’t flinch…
“Fernando Mendoza was 8-for-8 for 161 yards and three touchdowns against the blitz. He absolutely locked up the No. 1 pick [on January 1] because of that performance. He even made a few plays with his legs. That kid can step on an NFL field and play. He made me a believer out of me.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Raiders Hit With Strong Take on Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza appeared first on Heavy Sports.