The Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 23, 2026. The Heisman Trophy winner leads a draft class that NFL scouts and executives described as lacking depth in several key position groups.
Mendoza ascended to the top selection after leading Indiana to a 16-0 season and a national championship, recording 41 touchdowns against six interceptions. According to reports from the New York Times, NFL personnel directors view Mendoza as a superior prospect compared to recent high-level quarterbacks due to his red-zone efficiency and intangible leadership traits.
“I think he has the answers to the test,” said one NFL scouting executive in a report by the New York Times. “Over his whole career, he has gotten better. He has those intangibles that people say are the reasons that people screw up in the draft.”
Beyond the top pick, the 2026 class has drawn mixed reviews from league officials. Scouts cited by the New York Times characterized the pool as a “bad draft” for quarterbacks after Mendoza and the worst for defensive tackles in at least a decade, though safety prospects are considered a strength.
Following the selection of Mendoza, the Raiders focused on defensive and offensive depth. According to the team’s official mock draft projections, Las Vegas targeted Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods in the second round and Georgia State wide receiver Ted Hurst in the third round to support their new quarterback.
The draft process highlighted several polarizing prospects, including Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain. Despite his dominance in the College Football Playoff, scouts noted his 30 7/8 inch arms would be the shortest for a first-round defensive lineman in modern history, as reported by the New York Times.
Other quarterbacks in the class faced scrutiny for various factors. Alabama’s Ty Simpson was noted for a lack of experience, while LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar were viewed as mid-tier prospects with specific developmental concerns according to NFL offensive assistants.
The Raiders continued to build around Mendoza in the later rounds, adding UConn receiver Skyler Bell and Iowa guard Beau Stephens. These additions aim to fortify an offensive unit that will transition Mendoza from a collegiate spread system to a professional scheme involving more traditional under-center snaps.