Is Mendoza a lock to be the No. 1 pick?
How many Las Vegas real estate agents do you think have reached out to Mendoza already? The favorite to be the No. 1 pick played like exactly that in the win over Oregon.
Mendoza’s superpowers are his pre-snap recognition and accuracy, both of which were on full display. He is extremely proficient understanding where vulnerable one-on-one matchups are going to be, and then he puts the ball in a spot where only his man can make the play. It doesn’t matter if it’s an opposite-hash out route, back-shoulder throw or a boundary go pattern, Mendoza’s placement to every level is fantastic.
We can debate all day where he ranks among other recent top quarterback prospects, including Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Cam Ward (each of them being a little different type of player). But Mendoza continues to separate himself in the 2026 draft class as the best option for the Raiders.