Raiders take Fernando Mendoza with No. 1 pick in NFL draft

las vegas raiders pre selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza With the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Mendoza became the first quarterback taken in the starting round by the Raiders since 2007, when they selected JaMarcus Russell at No. 1 overall.

“What a great organization, great legacy,” Mendoza told ESPN after the Raiders’ selection. “I’m looking forward to talking to a lot of teammates – coaches, owners. I’m very excited about the opportunity.”

Mendoza’s selection by the Raiders seemed inevitable after going 3-14 in 2025 under former coach Pete Carroll. Carroll was fired after his only season with the Raiders, and former starting quarterback geno smith was traded to New York Jets Last month.

Mendoza said, “Whatever team was going to choose me would be a good fit for me, but deep down I knew the Raiders would be the best fit because of the coaching staff.” “I think it really suits my style of play.”

Raiders owner Mark Davis said in February that one reason for hiring new coach Clint Kubiak was the possibility of taking an offensive player in the first round – and he wanted that player to move forward with the former player. Seattle Seahawks Offensive coordinator.

“It’s a great fit for us,” Raiders general manager John Spitek said of Mendoza. “He’s big. He can see downfield. He can see the middle of the field. He can throw those balls. He’s athletic, so all the shoes and keepers we like to run, he’ll do well. He’s got a good arm. He can throw the ball wherever he needs to across the field, and he’s extremely accurate, which is important no matter what system you play in as a quarterback.”

Mendoza will face a 15th year veteran cancer cousin and fourth year player aidan o’connell Becoming a Las Vegas starter. Although the Raiders’ top brass may not want to start a rookie quarterback right away, Spytek said the best player will eventually play.

Mendoza visited Las Vegas on April 7, which was also the first day of the Raiders’ offseason workout program. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner spoke with the Raiders virtually at the scouting combine and after Indiana’s pro day on April 1. Las Vegas sent a large contingent, including Spytek and Kubiak, to Bloomington to oversee the presence of Mendoza and other Hoosiers.

“I’m just looking forward to going to work, proving it at the next level,” Mendoza told ESPN. “College was great. I’m very fortunate to have had that career. But now I’m stepping into a great game in the NFL. Look forward to proving it and earning it every day.”

Mendoza is the 30th quarterback selected No. 1 in the Common Draft era (since 1967). A quarterback has been selected No. 1 overall eight times in the last nine years, a first in the normal draft era.

Mendoza was a three-star recruit in high school. After that he started his college career CaliforniaThe South Florida native transferred to Indiana for the 2025 season, and his draft stock has skyrocketed. He played a key role in leading the Hoosiers to a 16–0 record and winning the program’s first national title.

“I believe I am still disadvantaged,” he said. “Even though the draft was today, after getting drafted, I’m part of the NFL now, and I can tell you right now I’m not one of the 32 – even though I was picked one of the 32 today – I’m not one of the 32 quarterbacks right now.

“So I need to work every day possible, because I’m the bottom rung on the totem pole.”

Mendoza finished his only season at Indiana with career highs in passing yards (3,535), touchdown passes (41), completion rate (72%) and QBR (90.3).