Barring what can be a surprising improvement, the Las Vegas Raiders will virtually actually make Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the primary general choose of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In fact, new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and Raiders normal supervisor John Spytek have not but confirmed that they may seize Mendoza with the draft’s No. 1 selection. Thus, it is comprehensible that Mendoza spoke fastidiously about his future throughout Monday’s occasion associated to his receiving the Davey O’Brien Award as the highest faculty signal-caller for the 2025 season.
Fernando Mendoza will probably be “ecstatic” to land with Raiders
“I might be blessed and honored to play for the Raiders, or I might be blessed to play for any group,” Mendoza defined, per Fox Sports. “Any NFL group that drafts me, I might be ecstatic. I do know on the draft, I am going to most likely shed a tear or two simply because it is such a full-circle second for me.”
On Monday morning, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner referred to Mendoza as a “uncommon QB prospect who’s mentally and bodily robust sufficient to deal with the ups and downs that may include beginning on a nasty group, whereas additionally being the centerpiece as that group grows from younger to polished.” Additionally on Monday, Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Assessment-Journal shared that the Raiders hiring Mike McCoy as their assistant head coach needs to be a constructive because it pertains to Mendoza’s improvement.
Philip Rivers, Tim Tebow, Peyton Manning, Trevor Lawrence and 2025 rookie Cam Ward are among the many quarterbacks McCoy beforehand coached.
Fernando Mendoza displays on whirlwind yr
As The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman talked about, Mendoza went from being often called a “shaky starter” to the presumed high choose of this yr’s NFL Draft. Few predicted 12 months in the past that Mendoza would information the Hoosiers to an ideal 16-0 report and a nationwide title.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Mendoza added. “I feel now it’s lastly settled in, and the mud has began to settle. The nationwide championship, after which growth, subsequent factor you realize, you’re on a brand new chapter.”
That new chapter will doubtless contain Mendoza being tasked with enjoying the function of franchise savior for the Raiders.
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