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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and with the team lacking a franchise signal-caller, there’s one on the board for them to take in Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza, who declared for the draft on Jan. 23.
Mendoza is coming off a 2025 college football season in which he won the national title and Heisman Trophy, giving him individual and team success. The Indiana had a passer rating of 182.9 with 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 16 games this season, per StatMuse.
The Raiders front office, including minority owner Tom Brady, was also scouting Mendoza during the national title game against the Miami Hurricanes on Jan. 19. Moreover, one of Las Vegas’ celebrity fans, Guy Fieri, is also on board with the Silver and Black taking Mendoza.
“Mendoza is so well‑spoken, so composed, such a pro,” Fieri said during a Jan. 20 appearance on “Mostly Sports With Mark Titus & Brandon Walker.” “Would I love to see him in a Raiders’ uniform? Absolutely. I think we could really build a team around this guy, and he’s huge, and he’s not scared to play.”
Raiders Minority Owner Talks About Fernando Mendoza
Meanwhile, Brady, who was scouting Mendoza, also shared his take on the Hoosiers standout without getting into draft specifics. On the Jan. 23 edition of “The Herd,“ Brady spoke with host Colin Cowherd regarding his takeaway from Mendoza after seeing him up close and witnessing the player’s success this season with Indiana.
“He’s played [tremendously] all season, 16‑0, leading his team,“ Brady said. “Again, he’s another guy that, when you hear him speak, I always judge quarterbacks and go, How would I have answered that? He’s just a very mature young man, and he’s got a bright future. Everybody coming into the league still [has] so much room for development.
“Nobody’s a finished product. I don’t care whether you’ve won the Heisman or you’re the 199th pick in the draft. It’s what do you do when you get there? How important is this to you? Are you obsessed with your job? Are you obsessed with being the best you can be?”
Tom Brady Talks Team Culture Amid Fernando Mendoza Link
Furthermore, Brady did shed light on the type of team environment he would like for Mendoza and other draft prospects to enter that would help them succeed, without mentioning the Raiders.
“I hope they go to environments that embrace them completely, that can help them develop into the best player they can be,“ Brady added. “That’s how I grew up in the league. I found a great environment. It was all about football.
“It was about how can you be the best teammate? How can you work hard? How can you play smart? How can you play tough? How can you play well under pressure? How well can you play in tough conditions? And then, ultimately, how well can you play in Championship games? And all those things remain to be seen.”
It will be interesting to see what the Raiders do with the top pick. However, after pursuing short-term fixes, it would be ideal for them to draft a potential franchise signal-caller and not worry about the future for the foreseeable future.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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