How QB Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman-winning perfect college run put him on track to become the Raiders’ top draft target

NFL rebuilds usually start quietly. A coaching change here, a roster tweak there. But sometimes, everything funnels into one decision. For the Las Vegas Raiders, that moment has arrived. After finishing last season as the league’s worst team, the Raiders now control the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, a rare chance to reset the franchise in one move.
For Raiders fans, this pick feels different. It is not just about drafting talent. It is about choosing a direction. The team needs a quarterback, and one college player has surged so far ahead of the pack that it is hard to ignore him. A year ago, most fans had never heard his name. Now, he is the centerpiece of the entire draft.

How Fernando Mendoza went from unknown to likely No. 1 pick

Fernando Mendoza authored a season that still feels unreal. Leading the Indiana Hoosiers, Mendoza guided a program with modest expectations to a perfect 16-0 record. Indiana did not just surprise people. They ran the table and finished it off with a national title. The defining moment came in the College Football Playoff final against the Miami Hurricanes. Indiana won 27-21, and Mendoza sealed it with a touchdown while taking a brutal hit. After the game, he showed the deep bruise left behind, a physical reminder of the play that crowned Indiana champions.
By the end of the season, Mendoza had done it all. He won the Heisman Trophy and separated himself from every other quarterback in the class. Draft projections now consistently place him at No. 1 overall, with the Raiders viewed as the most likely destination. That does not mean the conversation is settled. Even after being the best player in college football, Mendoza still faces questions. Scouts continue to debate how his college game will translate to the NFL, and whether his rapid rise leaves unknowns that matter at the next level.
Some analysts have urged caution. On First Things First, Danny Parkins laid out the alternative if any uncertainty exists. “Trading the No. 1 pick for a haul is almost always the right move if you have any doubt about the quarterback,” he said.
So far, the Raiders do not seem to be leaning that way. One detail has only strengthened the belief that Mendoza is their guy. Tom Brady, now part of the Raiders’ ownership group, attended the national championship game and watched Mendoza up close. What makes the story even more striking is how fast it all happened. Mendoza entered the season with little national buzz, while others like Arch Manning were already being discussed as future stars. As the season unfolded, those expectations shifted, and Mendoza never gave them back.
Barring a surprise, the Raiders will walk to the podium at the end of April and make the most important pick they have had in years. For a team coming off rock bottom, Fernando Mendoza represents more than a quarterback. He represents a clean slate and a chance to start over.


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