The Las Vegas Raiders have officially found their franchise quarterback, selecting Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback from Indiana, with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It was an open secret that the Raiders were eyeing the 22-year-old gunslinger, but now it's official. Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a national championship and captured the Heisman in a stellar season.
The Raiders have long struggled to find a reliable signal-caller. Their last No. 1 pick, JaMarcus Russell in 2007, was a bust. Derek Carr (2014, second round) was solid but not elite. Since Carr's departure, they've cycled through Aidan O'Connell, Jimmy Garoppolo, Gardner Minshew, and Geno Smith.
Las Vegas is betting Mendoza will finally end that quarterback carousel and lead the franchise to glory.