Raiders select QB Fernando Mendoza with No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft

The Las Vegas Raiders have used the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

The Heisman Trophy winner has known for some time he'd go No. 1, but when the call came, surrounded by family at home, the tears and hugs said everything.

Joining a Raiders side that has made only two trips to the postseason since 2002, the size of the task facing Mendoza in Las Vegas cannot be overstated.

But hope springs eternal. With Super Bowl-winning coordinator Klint Kubiak now at the helm and Mendoza leading the offense, Raider Nation may have the building blocks they've been missing.

"What a great organisation, great legacy," he said after the pick. "I'm ecstatic for the opportunity."

Here's what Mendoza offers the Raiders, and what he's walking into in year one.

Stream the 2026 NFL Draft free and live on DAZN

The 2026 NFL Draft began tonight in Pittsburgh, and fans worldwide can watch every round live on DAZN - for free.*

Round 1 started at 1am BST / 8pm ET / 5pm PT, where one-by-one, 32 of the best college prospects will hear their names called as they take their first step toward potential NFL stardom.

Days two and three follow on Friday and Saturday, with rounds two through seven producing plenty of their own difference-makers. Streaming times can be found here.

*Excludes Canada

Mendoza's record-breaking college career

Renowned for his elite timing and accuracy, Mendoza led the nation with a 90.3 quarterback rating last season.

He helped the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and the CFP national championship title in what will be remembered as a season for the ages.

An 80-yard game-winning drive at Penn State, a road win at Oregon, and this - the decisive touchdown run in the national title game against Miami - catapulted him to national fame.

With 3,535 passing yards, a program-record 41 touchdown passes, 444 rushing yards and seven rushing TDs, Mendoza was always destined to be the first player to hear his name called in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Did the Raiders entertain trading the No.1 pick away?

Raiders GM John Spytek admitted the Raiders had "gotten a few calls" from other teams enquiring about the No. 1 selection.

He also said, "If there's a player that stands out that we feel it's not worth losing, it's not worth even picking up the phone, then we'll just make the pick."

Clearly, Mendoza was the player the Las Vegas front office thought stood out, suggesting they were never going to entertain a trade unless they received an offer that they simply couldn't resist.

Will Mendoza start from day one?

Las Vegas inked Kirk Cousins to a one-year, $20 million deal earlier this month, suggesting Mendoza may not walk into a starting role immediately.

Kubiak has previously said as much, telling reporters, "Ideally, you don't want him to start from Day 1. You'd love for him to learn behind somebody."

But it remains to be seen how long Cousins can keep the ultra-competitive, super-talented Mendoza on the sideline.

Mendoza's supporting cast in Las Vegas

Alex Slitz / Staff

When, not if, he succeeds the veteran, Mendoza will be taking snaps from Tyler Linderbaum, who became the highest-paid center in NFL history when he joined the Raiders in free agency.

The young gunslinger will count on the dynamic pairing of running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers to help the Raiders' offense achieve their potential.

Supporting that group is a wide receiver room boosted by the arrival of Jalen Nailor, the former Vikings player who signed a three-year, $35.03 million contract in March.

On the other side of the ball, the Raiders' defense should be much improved, too. The arrivals of Quay Walker, Nakobe Dean, Taron Johnson and Eric Stokes coincided with the failed Maxx Crosby trade, which kept the star in Vegas.

Tom Brady: Mendoza's new mentor

Last but certainly not least, Mendoza will have the ear of seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, a minority owner with the Raiders.

The importance of having Brady as a mentor isn't lost on him.

Kubiak must be licking his lips at the prospect of what lies ahead. "He won a national championship, and that's what you want. You want a winner," he said of Mendoza pre-draft.

Well, now he's got his winner, and the real hard work starts.