Las Vegas Raiders fans are convinced Fernando Mendoza is the way to go at No. 1 pick

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 06: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers looks to pass against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NFL draft is two months away, however, for fans of the Las Vegas Raiders, the drama should be over.

The Raiders, of course, own the No. 1 overall pick in the April 23-25 draft.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, had been the early favorite to be the team’s pick. But that went to the next level after his incredible play in a NCAA playoff win over Oregon. Mendoza was near perfect in the game.

He looks like the clear-cut choice. The Raiders badly need a young quarterback and Mendoza fits the bill perfectly, it seems.

Still, we our our readers. Yes, they agree. In a popular poll, about 90 percent of the poll takers agree that Mendoza is the choice.

So, it’s clear most fans aren’t on the fence about Mendoza. They aren’t eying anyone else. They don’t want the Raiders trade the pick for a load of compensation.

They want Mendoza.

Here are some of your responses:

nastynation

Cignettis team probably wins most games with another QB. They probably lose to Ohio state wo Mendoza. Also unlikely another QB goes more TDs then incompletions 2 games in a row.

He was humbled and learned to scrap at Cal. Got the positive winning mindset from Cignetti and is now ready to deploy that with the Raiders. Also 6’5. Easy pick.

Pair him with Kubiak, McDaniels, Webb.

Tyrone Wheatleys Mommy

100%, without a doubt he is absolutely the pick. Don’t overthink this.

Armydog11962

Mendoza is 6″5 250 he has accuracy, makes plays when he scrambling, he took down some top defenses like Ohio State, Penn State, Alabama, Oregon twice, and few other teams, he has shown his toughness, he took some hard hits against Ohio St, showed his toughness, he’s a intelligent guy, I would love to have Jon Gruden be the QB coach to groom him, what a combination that would be with Brock and Jetty and a receiving core yet to come, hell yeah, Get your pop corn ready Raider Nation

VannMcElroy

I love Mendoza. He’s played almost flawlessly this year. He’s the pick. My only concerns:

1. He’s been playing behind a beast of a line. Can he handle pressure.

2. (Cal Graduate here) If he had stayed at Cal, he’d probably be an undrafted free agent.

If’s and but’s and all that, but as a Cal, Raiders and Sacramento Kings fan, I’m paranoid about anything we do in the draft. Call it PTSD.

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