There is no doubt that Las Vegas Raiders fans are already looking ahead to April 23, when the first round of the NFL Draft will take place. Everything points to the Raiders selecting Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana Hoosiers star, as the quarterback they hope will change the course of the franchise-unless a surprise occurs.

The Raiders were the worst team in the NFL during the 2026 season, finishing with a 3-14 record in a campaign that proved deeply disappointing. This was especially true given that they invested in an experienced head coach like Pete Carroll and completed a trade with the Seattle Seahawks to acquire Geno Smith, who had not performed poorly in recent years.

The expectation was that the Raiders would be competitive, and although they defeated the New England Patriots in Week 1, the team eventually collapsed and never found a way to recover during the season. Ultimately, they lost to the Giants in the penultimate week and secured the first overall pick in the Draft.

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The Raiders have the weapons to make Fernando Mendoza shine

Beyond the fact that the Raiders should have no trouble selecting Fernando Mendoza, the team must enter a rebuilding process to compete in a division that includes two playoff teams-the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers-along with the Kansas City Chiefs led by Patrick Mahomes, who are expected to return to contention in 2026.

Even so, ESPN analyst Matt Miller believes Fernando Mendoza is ready to deliver immediate results:

“He can start from day one, and the Raiders have the offensive infrastructure around him, including tackle Kolton Miller, running back Ashton Jeanty, and tight end Brock Bowers,” Miller wrote. “Mendoza’s experience and proven ability to elevate those around him should ensure his success here.”

Because of this, the Raiders cannot afford to make the mistake of passing on Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick, especially since Geno Smith did not work out: “The trade for Geno Smith didn’t pan out, and the 2026 class has only one quarterback with a first-round grade. My No. 4 overall player, Mendoza, gives the Raiders a franchise-level quarterback with excellent poise, decision-making, accuracy, and toughness both inside and outside the pocket-traits he showed by winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Indiana to the national championship,” Miller noted.

At the beginning of the season, Fernando Mendoza was not considered among the top quarterbacks, a group that included Arch Manning and Drew Allar, among others. Now, it would not be a surprise if Mendoza ends up being the only quarterback selected in the first round.