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Fernando Mendoza skyrocketed to the top of every NFL expert’s draft board during the 2025 college football season as the Indiana Hoosiers standout won the Heisman Trophy and led the school to a national championship.
Mendoza’s status remained clean when the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. He will be tasked with returning the franchise to greatness under head coach Klint Kubiak and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who will serve as Mendoza’s mentor.
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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza runs through a drill during a rookie minicamp at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nev., on May 2, 2026. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)
One critic came out of the woodwork on Monday when an anonymous ACC coach told ESPN he didn’t believe Mendoza had the “NFL attributes.” The coach competed against Mendoza as the quarterback threw around the pigskin for the Cal Golden Bears.
“He’s a good decision maker, but I don’t think he has the NFL skills,” the coach told ESPN. “They’re all back-shoulder (throws). That doesn’t work in the NFL. His receivers made plays to make him look better than he is. In the NFL, those throws are taken away.”
FERNANDO MENDOZA, THE NO. 1 NFL DRAFT CHOICE TO RAIDERS, TASKED TO RETURN A LEGACY FRANCHISE TO GLORY
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza warms up during a rookie minicamp at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nev., on May 2, 2026. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)
Mendoza showed grit and determination with some of the throws he made in Indiana. One that comes to mind is the game-winning touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. against Penn State.
Cooper made the catch and incredible toe tap for the touchdown with 36 seconds left in the game, keeping Indiana’s dream season alive.
Raiders general manager John Spytek said last month he dismissed any talk of trading No. 1 because he was confident Mendoza would be their guy.
“I think any coach is excited to work with a big, athletic, talented pitcher who is extremely smart and a very driven worker, and that’s been our experience with Fernando,” Spytek said. “That’s a good starting point for any quarterback.”
It’s the heart that Mendoza showed throughout the season, including in the national title game against the Miami Hurricanes, that made him an attractive prospect for NFL teams.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, attends a news conference at Raiders headquarters in Henderson, Nev., on April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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He had 3,535 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes in his only season at Indiana.
