Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza's imminent visit signals the Las Vegas Raiders' clear path to the No. 1 pick, solidifying his expected draft selection.
If everything goes as expected, the Las Vegas Raiders will select Indiana Hoosiers quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sure, the Dan Orlovsky-Ty Simpson hype fest has been fun to see, but there doesn't seem to be any realistic chance that the Raiders pass on Mendoza and select someone else at No. 1.
If the Raiders don't pick Mendoza, they likely don't make the first choice in the draft, but it seems obvious that Mendoza will be in Las Vegas.
The Raiders just hired Mike Sullivan as the new quarterbacks coach, and he has plenty of experience, including time working with Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
Mendoza's Indiana Pro Day is on April 1, and after he didn't throw at the NFL Scouting Combine, there should be plenty of eyes at the Hoosiers' Pro Day to see the other Indiana stars as well.
And, the Raiders are set to host Mendoza on a Top 30 visit after his Pro Day, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Ever since the College Football Playoff run came to an end, there has been almost zero question about Mendoza being the top pick, although Orlovsky has certainly made headlines for saying Simpson is a better player.
We won't talk about that, because Mendoza has proven himself time and time again in the bright lights and biggest stages in the game.
The Raiders traded away Geno Smith, and while there were rumblings about Kirk Cousins, the veteran is still a free agent and might be holding out hope of an Aaron Rodgers retirement announcement, which would then allow Cousins to be in the QB1 running for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Raiders have a very important choice to make here, especially after the Smith trade failed, and the contract extension they gave him looks even worse after the turnover-filled campaign he had in 2025.
Mendoza is a safe pick, especially with Las Vegas needing some new faces in town. Mendoza is also a humble, easygoing guy, and he wouldn't cause many headaches, which is something that would be a breath of fresh air for the Raiders.
Assuming the visit and Pro Day go well for Mendoza, there shouldn't be a big question about the Hoosiers star hearing his name called first in the 2026 NFL Draft this time around.