Fernando Mendes' foul sends AFC into tailspin

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but some analysts are convinced he's not the top offensive talent available in this year's draft pool. In a recent draft board highlighting the top prospects, FOX Sports' Rob Rang ranked Mendoza at fourth overall among players who have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft.

Furthermore, one offensive player ranked above Mendoza – Notre Dame Running back Jeremiyah Love. "With all due respect to Heisman Trophy winner and likely No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, Love is the best offensive prospect in this class – and frankly, I don't think it's particularly close," Rang wrote.

Why Jeremiyah Love could be a better offensive prospect than Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft Rang's reasoning for ranking Love higher than Mendoza was pretty straightforward: admiration for Love's talent, not the perception that Mendoza won't live up to his hype at the professional level. "[Love is] among a select handful of elite runners to enter the NFL since I began scouting a quarter-century ago," Rang wrote. Meanwhile, Rang views Mendoza as a prospect with potential to be a "longtime, high-level NFL starter," but also said that Mendoza "doesn't possess the strongest arm of this class, nor is he the most dynamic running threat.

" However, he did have some detailed, significant love for Mendoza, who led the Indiana Hoosiers to their first-ever National Championship this past season, passing for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. Rang particularly praised Mendoza for his "exceptional blend of anticipation, accuracy, and poise. " This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Why Fernando Mendoza may not be the top NFL Draft prospect on offense