A group of eight people around the NFL were unanimous about what the Las Vegas Raiders will do with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, Jeremy Fowler and Roman Modrowski canvassed various personnel at the Senior Bowl and Super Bowl. They all responded that the Raiders will keep their first-round selection and take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
“The Raiders’ roster is bad, but Mendoza is the best passer in the draft and it’s not close,” one NFC executive said. “You can’t pass that up. He’s accurate to all levels of the field with a good arm, plus-size and good character.”
Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns as Indiana went 16-0 and embarked on one of the most improbable national championship runs in modern college football history.
Beyond the raw numbers, the leadership and poise displayed by the Heisman Trophy winner jumped out.
“That can be his superpower,” a different NFC executive told ESPN. “… He’s really that focused, and I think guys will gravitate toward that.”
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams is equally impressed by the manner in which Mendoza set the tone for the Hoosiers.
“He just looks like a great, humble kid,” Williams said, per ESPN. “He just looks like he’s happy to be there, wherever he’s at. I think that type of attitude, combined with his athleticism and playmaking ability, he’s going to change a locker room wherever he goes.”
Mendoza is generally considered to be the best quarterback on the board by a wide margin. He ranks fourth overall on Bleacher Report’s 2026 big board, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson is the next QB at 28th.
The Raiders likewise have a glaring need for a signal-caller. Geno Smith threw an NFL-high 17 interceptions in his first year with the team.
Las Vegas’ roster across the board simply isn’t good enough. For that reason, trading the No. 1 pick would make sense if a team is prepared to make an overwhelming offer.
Absent that, the Raiders should have an easy choice this April.
