The Las Vegas Raiders are more than likely selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick at the NFL draft in a couple of weeks.
The Las Vegas Raiders are heavily expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s National Football League draft on April 23.
That prediction has been circulating for months and months, but it’s finally going to be a reality in 10 days. The Raiders have tried to play it off by stating the organization is doing its homework on other prospects as well as Mendoza, but everyone knows he would be walking the stage first if he was attending the draft.
With the draft less than two weeks away, ESPN’s Matt Bowen put together his annual list of which prospect is best at skill superlatives and traits. He split 100 of them up amongst the position groups and started with quarterbacks, which had 10 skill superlatives/traits to award.
How well did Mendoza stack up with his incoming QB counterparts? Quite well, as he was the best at five of the 10 categories: most accurate passer, best deep-ball thrower, best touch and timing, best QB field vision and best decision-maker.
Strongest arm went to Penn State’s Drew Allar, best passing mechanics and intermediate thrower went to Alabama’s Ty Simpson, best pocket mobility and quickest throw release went to LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, best pocket presence went to Miami’s Carson Beck and most creative passer went to Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia.
The Hoosiers had a perfect undefeated season that culminated in the college’s first National Championship. Of course, Mendoza was a huge reason for the team’s success, and all his traits were on full display throughout the year.
“Mendoza's 7.1% off-target rate was the third lowest in the nation last season,” Bowen wrote Monday. “He can hit receivers in stride from the pocket on in-breakers and crossers at a consistent clip.”
Mendoza led the nation in touchdowns (41), passer rating (182.9) and QB rating 90.3 while being 15th in passing yards (3,535). He threw just six interceptions and demonstrated his ability to be extremely accurate and efficient by completing 72 percent of his passes.
He threw 27 touchdown passes inside the red zone and didn’t throw a single interception, showing his elite ball protection.
“Mendoza threw only six interceptions last season, and his decision-making improves in critical field position. He had an FBS-high 27 red zone touchdown passes in 2025, and he didn't throw a pick inside the 20-yard line over the past two seasons.”
Bowen mentions that Mendoza plays well in rhythm and can throw with pace and touch to complete passes in layered tight windows. He plays “with accelerated vision” compared to the other QB prospects and despite not having elite arm strength, he executes throwing the ball deep with timing and accuracy.
The Raiders are getting easily the best QB prospect of the class, and even though there’s a chance veteran QB Kirk Cousins starts to open the season, Mendoza will be making plays for the Raiders in no time.