Sport US & Canada

Raiders take Mendoza No. 1

Raiders take Mendoza No. 1

The Las Vegas Raiders have selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, is set to become the new face of the franchise in a draft that featured several early surprises.

The rookie quarterback expressed his desire to represent the Raiders' Hispanic fan base and credits his mother's fight with multiple sclerosis as his primary motivation.

Management praised Mendoza's leadership skills and dedication during his introductory press conference in Las Vegas.

Fernando Mendoza Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0
Fernando Mendoza
American football quarterback (born 2003)
Las Vegas Raiders
National Football League franchise in Las Vegas, Nevada
National Football League draft
Annual three-day event determining player selections for NFL teams
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Defunct Indianapolis campus of Indiana University which included two Purdue University schools