Fernando Mendoza’s Meteoric Rise Sets the Stage for No. 1 Pick and a Raiders Rebuild
Fernando Mendoza just wrapped up one of the most unforgettable runs in recent college football history. The Indiana quarterback didn’t just win the Heisman Trophy-he rewrote the narrative for an entire program.
Undefeated season? Check.
National Championship? Check.
A game-winning touchdown run in the title game against Miami that etched his name into Hoosier lore? Absolutely.
Now, all signs point toward Mendoza becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Las Vegas Raiders poised to make him the face of their franchise.
And let’s be honest-the Raiders need a spark. Badly.
Las Vegas is coming off a 3-14 season that saw them finish dead last in the AFC West. Pete Carroll’s return to coaching didn’t go as planned. What was supposed to be a revival turned into a collapse, and by season’s end, the Raiders were once again searching for answers-and a new head coach.
That answer appears to be Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, who is expected to take over in Vegas once Seattle wraps up its Super Bowl 60 clash with the Patriots. Kubiak is known for his quarterback-friendly systems and creative play design-exactly the kind of environment a young signal-caller like Mendoza could thrive in.
Mendoza, for his part, has been soaking in the Super Bowl atmosphere in San Francisco, making the rounds on Radio Row and giving fans a glimpse into what makes him tick. During a conversation with Colin Cowherd, Mendoza opened up about his quarterbacking philosophy-and unsurprisingly, it starts with a familiar name: Tom Brady.
“I read the TB12 book,” Mendoza said. “I was always big on preparation.
Because, like Tom, I’m not the biggest, I’m not the fastest, I’m not the strongest. But the edge is in the intellect and preparation.”
That mindset is exactly what NFL teams are looking for in a franchise quarterback. And when you consider that Brady himself is now a minority owner of the Raiders-as well as Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst-Mendoza’s admiration for the seven-time Super Bowl champ certainly won’t hurt his stock in Vegas.
The fit between Mendoza and the Raiders feels like more than just a draft projection-it’s a potential turning point. For a franchise that’s been searching for stability at quarterback since the Derek Carr era ended, Mendoza brings poise, leadership, and a track record of winning on the biggest stage.
He’s not the flashiest athlete in the class, but his command of the game, his preparation habits, and his ability to elevate those around him make him the kind of player you can build around.
Fernando Mendoza says on @TheHerd that he was a huge fan of Tom Brady growing up:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 6, 2026
“I read the TB12 book. I was always big on preparation. Because, like Tom, I’m not the biggest, I’m not the fastest, I’m not the strongest. But the edge is in the intellect and preparation.” https://t.co/4VogMUSIaJ pic.twitter.com/28IDsgpH2m
If the Raiders do pull the trigger and draft Mendoza at No. 1, they won’t just be getting a quarterback-they’ll be getting a culture-changer. And after the season they just endured, that might be exactly what they need.