March 19, 2026, 3:01 p.m. PT
New Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jalen Nailor is fond of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza potentially being his next quarterback in 2026.
Nailor signed a three-year, $35 million deal with the Raiders on March 12. The 27-year-old played for the Minnesota Vikings from 2022-25. The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With that comes the overwhelming expectation that Las Vegas will select Mendoza — the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner — to kick off the draft.
On Thursday’s episode of the “Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams,” Nailor weighed in on potentially catching passes from Mendoza in 2026.
”The touch he has on his passes, you know, those accurate passes that he makes, it really pops out, and he’s a mobile quarterback,” Nailor said. “Like, he can get on the ground and he can run a little bit. So, just to have those aspects of him as a quarterback. He’s on the taller end as well. So, seeing over the line won’t be an issue. But, I mean, he has all the things that you would want in a quarterback.”
Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards in 2025. He also led the FBS in passing touchdowns with 41. In the event that the Raiders select Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Nailor will have a heralded young quarterback to catch passes from next season. Nailor went for a career-high 444 yards in 2025 for the Vikings.
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