QB Fernando Mendoza selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders picked Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Now he begins work on another turnaround.
Fernando Mendoza – ever the humble gentleman – demurred when asked about draft. He could be the first pick, the 199th pick – he knew what he was doing by highlighting the draft spot his new boss, Tom Brady, immortalized – or the last pick, "Mr. Irrelevant," he said.
All that mattered to him was another opportunity to continue improving. He will get that opportunity with the Las Vegas Raiders , who picked Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, formalizing what had been an inevitability for months. Mendoza, who celebrated his selection at home in south Florida with family, plays the most important position in sports and is the most pro-ready quarterback prospect in the class.
Mendoza became the fourth quarterback since 2010 to win the national title, Heisman and be taken first overall, joining Cam Newton, Jameis Winston and Joe Burrow. “Now I step into a great game, in the NFL, and I look forward to proving it every single day,” Mendoza told ESPN. Sporting a black and silver Raiders cap and flanked by friends and family, Mendoza beamed after the selection.
"What a great organization. Great legacy, with so many teammates I'm looking forward to talking to ... " Mendoza said, adding: "I'm ecstatic for the opportunity.