{"id":687220,"date":"2026-01-18T21:16:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T21:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/687220\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T21:16:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T21:16:21","slug":"las-vegas-raiders-draft-where-does-fernando-mendoza-rank-among-recent-qbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/687220\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Vegas Raiders draft: Where does Fernando Mendoza rank among recent QBs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s Mendoza mania in Las Vegas as the expectation is that the Las Vegas Raiders will be using the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza<\/a> in just a few months. Obviously, that\u2019s one of the big topics for this week\u2019s mailbag, and we\u2019ll also touch on the head coach search<\/a>, free agency and the offseason as a whole. Let\u2019s get to it!<\/p>\n

A: Keeping in mind that this is how I viewed\/graded them as prospects and not factoring in how they\u2019ve performed as pros, here\u2019s how I\u2019d rank the last three quarterback classes.<\/p>\n

Drake MayeCaleb WilliamsFernando MendozaJayden DanielsCam WardJJ McCarthyBo NixMichael Penix<\/p>\n

Admittedly, I was way too low on Daniels. Looking back on it, I overthought his evaluation and should have just stuck to what Daniels showed during his last season at LSU. So, I wouldn\u2019t argue against anyone who has Daniels over Mendoza.<\/p>\n

Maye and Williams definitely had more talent than Mendoza, and I don\u2019t mean that as a slight against Mendoza. Those other two were just really athletic and had very good arm talent. I\u2019d have a hard time putting any quarterback prospect in the last five to ten draft classes ahead of them. Plus, I thought Maye was a better processor than people gave him credit for coming out of North Carolina.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been saying this since about November; I feel like people are underselling Mendoza as a prospect. He may not be a physical freak, but he\u2019s athletic enough, has plenty of arm strength, is extremely accurate and great at picking apart coverages. I\u2019ve fallen victim to this too, so I understand it, but I feel like we fall in love with the first two traits mentioned and forget that the last two are actually more important when it comes to playing the position.<\/p>\n

Q: Who is your pick in the draft, or would you want to trade down? <\/p>\n

\"Fernando<\/a><\/p>\n

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 09: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates with the George P. Crumbley Trophy after the Hoosiers defeated the Oregon Ducks in the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

A: Fernando Mendoza V. And then in another 20 to 30 years, Fernando Mendoza VI.<\/p>\n

Jokes aside, the Raiders are finally in a spot where they have a chance to draft a franchise quarterback, and it\u2019s time to take advantage of that situation. As bad as the Raiders have been in the last 20 years, this is only the second time they\u2019ve picked No. 1 overall. It would take a blockbuster trade for me to even entertain the idea of moving out of this spot.<\/p>\n

Q: I\u2019m making you the Raiders GM for a minute. I\u2019m the Jets or Browns, and I call you up and offer you as many as five first and second round picks for this year and 2027. Don\u2019t you have to make that trade for the long-term future of the Raiders and forget about Mendoza?<\/p>\n

A: Speaking of, if it\u2019s five first- and second-round picks, okay, now I\u2019m listening. That\u2019s about the same as what the Bears got for the 2023 No. 1 pick\/Bryce Young. The Panthers sent them DJ Moore (who had three 1,000-yard seasons in five years at the time), 2023 first- and second-rounders, a 2024 first-round pick (which ended up being No. 1 overall) and a 2025 second-round pick.<\/p>\n

However, I don\u2019t think that would be a reasonable expectation for Las Vegas to receive. Carolina was going from nine to one, while New York would be moving up one spot and Cleveland owns the sixth pick. Plus, the Bears have clearly won that trade, so I\u2019d have a hard time seeing another team be willing to make the same deal. And if they are, that should tell you something about how the league views Mendoza compared to how the national media does\u2026<\/p>\n

A: Well, Indiana has had 17-0 and 35-0 at halftime in those two games. So, yeah, they did run the ball more because they didn\u2019t need throw it anymore. LOL! Also, Mendoza has had 14 carries in those two games, so it\u2019s not like he\u2019s been completely removed from the offense. If you want a stat from the CFP to ease your concerns, he\u2019s thrown more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five).<\/p>\n

The narrative that the Hoosiers are a powerhouse is a funny one to me. Indiana has been known as one of the worst Power 4\/5 programs in College Football, and Curt Cignetti\u2019s thing is that he wins with players that the big programs pass on. Yes, Indiana was in the playoffs last year without Mendoza. But they were also considered frauds after losing by multiple possessions to the two best teams they played: Ohio State by 23 and Notre Dame by 10.<\/p>\n

Then, the Hoosiers add Mendoza, and they\u2019re one win away from winning a National Championship after dominating in their first two playoff games. If you\u2019re concerned about his ability to put the team on his back, watch the second halves against Iowa, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State in the Big Ten championship from this season. The guy has come up big when his team needed it most all year.<\/p>\n

Q: It seems like Fernando Mendoza is a done deal with the 1st pick- and I am all for it, considering he\u2019s a fellow 305\u2019er and most importantly an incredibly smart, talented, and humble kid. All that being said, how would you feel about redshirting him in his first year?<\/p>\n

A: I\u2019d have absolutely no problem with that.<\/p>\n

I cut down the question here for some brevity, and this person also mentioned that the Raiders have issues with the offensive line and could use a go-to receiver on top of other holes on the roster. I know that has been mentioned as a reason to trade the pick because any quarterback would have trouble finding success with the Raiders\u2019 lack of a strong supporting cast, and I agree that it\u2019s an adverse situation. But that argument kind of contradicts itself.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s basically saying that Las Vegas is looking at a multi-year rebuild, so why are we concerned with how successful the team is in 2026? Why not get a long-term answer at the most important position on the field, especially when the organization is in a position to get the top guy in the class? To reiterate, you never know when you\u2019ll be in this position again. And don\u2019t get me started on the whole \u201cnext year\u2019s quarterback class is better\u201d discourse. I remember hearing that last year about this year\u2019s class.<\/p>\n

Long story short, get Mendoza now and don\u2019t rush him onto the field. Next year probably isn\u2019t going to be pretty anyway, so be patient with the quarterback before throwing him to the wolves. Plus, the Raiders have free agency, the rest of the 2026 draft and the 2027 offseason to fix the supporting cast if we\u2019re keeping the big picture in mind.<\/p>\n

I think the situation the Raiders are in right now is similar to what the Patriots faced heading into 2024. New England took Maye at No. 3, had a bad offensive line and wide receiver corps, so they opted not to start him until Week 6. That was even a little early, in my opinion, but they let Maye work through the rookie struggles, and now the guy is an MVP candidate in year two. That\u2019s the formula I think Las Vegas should follow with Mendoza.<\/p>\n

Q: Why keep Geno Smith instead of Aidan O\u2019Connell as QB2?<\/p>\n

\"Aidan<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 04: Aidan O\u2019Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks to pass during the second quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward\/Getty Images) Getty Images<\/p>\n

A: I wouldn\u2019t, LOL! Building on my answer above, the Raiders could easily make O\u2019Connell the bridge quarterback. They can pitch it to AOC, as he might not have a future here, but this is his opportunity to show the rest of the league that he can be a starter before hitting free agency in the offseason. That buys Mendoza some time, and moving on from Smith clears $8 million of cap space to build out the rest of the roster.<\/p>\n

A: A few free-agent offensive linemen that I have my eyes on are: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, G David Edwards, C Tyler Linderbaum and G Ed Ingram. The offensive tackle class isn\u2019t very inspiring, but Braden Smith or Jermaine Eluemunor could be good short-term options at right tackle.<\/p>\n

Wide receiver has a few interesting free agents, as I\u2019m sure the entire NFL will be paying attention to what the Cowboys do with George Pickens. Also, Wan\u2019Dale Robinson, Alec Pierce, Romeo Doubs and Rahid Shaheed could be on the table. If the Raiders hire Klint Kubiak, look for them to go after Shaheed. Those two worked together in New Orleans, and Kubiak was part of the reason the Seahawks traded for Shaheed at the deadline.<\/p>\n

Q: Will Charles Grant be able to push for RT next year? I think this OL can be a lot better with a real OL coach and maybe just need to add 1 starter in free agency.<\/p>\n

A: This is the problem with him not really seeing the field this season. I think Grant could push DJ Glaze for the starting right tackle job, but the sample size isn\u2019t anywhere close to big enough to leave it to those two. I\u2019d still look into bringing in some competition, with the hope that the third-round pick proves himself in training camp.<\/p>\n

Q: Who do you like for the Raiders\u2019 other draft picks? I know you like the DL from Ohio State, but who else?<\/p>\n

A: I\u2019ll dive into the second round options more as we get closer to the draft and have a little more clarity on who is going to be available in that range. Kayden McDonald (the OSU defensive tackle mentioned) is very high on my list, though I get the feeling he\u2019s going in round one the more I watch him.<\/p>\n

To give y\u2019all a few other names to keep tabs on for now: Georgia LB CJ Allen, Georgia DT Christen Miller, Clemson Edge T.J. Parker, Oregon G Emmanuel Pregnon and Oregon S Dillon Thieneman.<\/p>\n

Q: Matt, there\u2019s a lot of talk about the Raiders getting an offensive or defensive head coach. I think they\u2019ll go after an offensive coach like Klint Kubiak. If they do go offensive HC, who are the top defensive coordinator candidates we can pair our coach with?<\/p>\n

A: If Kubiak is the next head coach, one defensive coordinator candidate I\u2019d have my eye on is 49ers defensive line coach Kris Kocurek. I don\u2019t know how close they are, but they worked together in San Francisco three years ago. Kocurek is a well-respected defensive line coach, but hasn\u2019t gotten an opportunity to prove himself as a defensive coordinator yet. Knowing his reputation in the league, I\u2019d be intrigued by giving him a shot to call the defense and bring over Robert Saleh\u2019s scheme.<\/p>\n

Steve Wilks would be another option, as he was also with the 49ers in 2023. Wilks got fired by Kyle Shanahan for \u201cphilosophical differences\u201d, but San Francisco had the third-ranked defense<\/a> in points allowed that year. This past season was ugly for Wilks, but the Jets also traded their two best defensive players (Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner) at the deadline.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the Raiders have a couple of in-house candidates who could be considered for the DC job, as they worked with Kubiak in New Orleans. Marcus Robertson, current defensive backs coach, and Joe Woods, defensive passing game coordinator and also a DBs coach. Robertson has never been a coordinator, while Woods has the experience but a so-so resume with three units<\/a> that finished in the top half of the league for points allowed in seven seasons.<\/p>\n

Someone else asked about the young head coach candidates, Davis Webb and Nate Scheelhaase. To be honest, I don\u2019t have a good answer for those guys. They\u2019re so young that they don\u2019t have strong networks in the NFL. That\u2019s part of the reason why I\u2019d be nervous about hiring Webb or Scheelhaase. I can also see up-and-coming defensive coordinator candidates not wanting to hitch their wagons to a young head coach that the Raiders are taking a flier on, especially if those candidates are currently in good situations.<\/p>\n

Q: Is it likely that the Raiders choose a head coach without experience as a coordinator or a head coach? Are those interviews really for coordinator positions?<\/p>\n

A: Building on that, I think it\u2019s pretty unlikely that the Raiders hire a coach without coordinator experience. A lack of head coach experience shouldn\u2019t be a hurdle, but not even being responsible for an entire side of the ball could or should be a deterrent.<\/p>\n

Especially with Webb and Scheelhaase, it\u2019s telling that Las Vegas also requested to interview the defensive coordinators that these two are currently working with, Vance Joseph<\/a> and Chris Shula<\/a>. To me, that signals the meetings with the young guys were more about gauging them as offensive coordinators rather than being legitimate head coach candidates.<\/p>\n

Q: I really like the combination of Brian Flores as our HC and Brian Daboll as our OC. I like Flores\u2019s aggressive defensive nature, and I think Daboll would be perfect for Mendoza. What would your ideal combination be?<\/p>\n

A: I\u2019m out on Flores with how he handled Tua Tagovailoa as a rookie quarterback. I can understand tough love from a coach, but constantly telling the future of the franchise that you wanted to draft someone else is going beyond hard coaching. That\u2019s just being a dick. Yes, people can change. But I heard the same thing about Josh McDaniels, and look how that turned out. Let another team take the risk with Flores.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m still hopeful for the combination of Shula and Mike LaFleur, as I really like what the Rams have done over the last few years. I\u2019d also be pretty excited with Kubiak or Kevin Stefanski to throw a couple of offensive minds out there.<\/p>\n

A: I think the odds are pretty low. Cignetti and Indiana agreed to a contract extension in October that pays him $11.6 million per year. Granted, there is a clause in it where the school either has to make him a top-three highest-paid coach in college football in about four months or his buyout drops to zero (h\/t: The Athletic\u2019s Chris Vannini<\/a>).<\/p>\n

However, I don\u2019t see Indiana not doing that, especially if they win the National Championship on Monday. Also, Cignetti turns 65 in June and has only coached in college, so I don\u2019t think he\u2019d be that motivated to go to the NFL at this stage in his career.<\/p>\n

A: I\u2019d definitely be up for Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. He\u2019s a creative play-caller who does some interesting stuff in the run game, and he\u2019s been credited with helping the 49ers\u2019 passing game when he was the team\u2019s run game coordinator. McDaniel is a sharp offensive mind who, in my opinion, is a classic good coordinator but bad head coach. If Robert Saleh gets the job, I\u2019d hope Saleh brings McDaniel to Vegas.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a cool anecdote about Mike Tomlin! I\u2019ve heard nothing but good things about him as a person.<\/p>\n

Q: How in the hell did John Spytek allow Miami to steal Cam Miller, and how do you feel about him now as GM? I think he either wasted a draft choice on him (and Tommy Mellott) or he is incompetent and asleep at the wheel for allowing him to be poached, especially with Geno sidelined?<\/p>\n

A: I hear ya, because the Raiders easily could have protected Miller by putting Geno on IR and elevating the rookie to the active roster for Week 18. That being said, the fact that they didn\u2019t could tell us something about how Miller looked in practice and how the organization viewed his future.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m still optimistic about Spytek. I liked his press conference at the end of the year where he owned up to and admitted making some mistakes last season, i.e. letting too many free agents walk. I respect that and feel like a lot of people in his position wouldn\u2019t admit that publicly.<\/p>\n

Of course, talk is cheap and the results need to improve. I\u2019m just not going to write off a general manager after one offseason, and let\u2019s see if the 2025 draft class can be better with a coach that actually plays them and doesn\u2019t hire his son to lead the offensive line.<\/p>\n

That\u2019ll do it for this week\u2019s mailbag. Thank you all for submitting questions and, as your weekly reminder, if you\u2019d like to have your questions answered in a future column, tweet them at me, @MHolder95<\/a>, email them to SBPQuestions1@gmail.com<\/a> or look for our weekly call for questions on the site. The latter will continue to publish on Thursdays.<\/p>\n