To the surprise of no one, the Las Vegas Raiders selected QB Fernando Mendoza. The Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion from IU will signal an organizational reset with new HC Klint Kubiak.
The arrival of Mendoza should put him on the low-end QB1/high-end QB2 radar and raises the ceiling of the entire offense, including TE Brock Bowers and RB Ashton Jeanty.
The Las Vegas Raiders officially selected Indiana ...
Indiana quarterback prospect Fernando Mendoza is the ...
Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has informed ...
Kirk Cousins is the Leverage King, securing his 11th consecutive season of fully guaranteed money. Every NFL player admires Cousins’ cojones. He has orchestrated an absolute masterclass in wealth accumulation, fleecing both the Falcons ($8.7M) and Raiders ($1.3M) for a total of $10 million this year, plus another $10M roster bonus from Las Vegas in 2027.
Even at 38 years old, Cousins is shrewdest negotiator in NFL history, simply biding his time until he hits the open market, demanding fully guaranteed deals, and then moving on to the next mark. Cousins has no fantasy value outside superflex leagues, and even in a 2QB format, he will back-up Fernando Mendoza with a league-bottom wide receiver room in 2026.
Las Vegas Raiders have officially hired Klint Kubiak as their new head coach, the team announced Monday. Kubiak receives a multi-year deal after helping the Seattle Seahawks capture Super Bowl LX as their offensive coordinator.
Kubiak, 39, succeeds Pete Carroll following 3-14 finish in 2025 and becomes the franchise’s sixth head coach since 2021, signaling another reset as Las Vegas looks to rebuild both its offense and overall culture.
Known for his quarterback-friendly system and play action-based attack, Kubiak arrives with the goal of maximizing the team’s young playmakers and stabilizing the quarterback position. Holding the number 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft, the Raiders are in prime position to select a franchise cornerstone. Potentially National Champion and Heisman Trophy winner Ferando Mendoza out of Indiana University as the face of the organization moving forward.
Author: Jake Lewis (@Lewylewis5)
Fernando Mendoza will likely opt-out of throwing at the NFL Combine. This continues a recent trend of the past few years, where many of the perceived top picks feel that there is no benefit to doing certain drills at the combine. Mendoza’s stock could not be higher as he is nearly a lock to be selected 1st overall, so there are far more risks than there are benefits at this point. He did state that he would still like to throw at Indiana’s Pro Day, in hopes of elevating his teammates, Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr., who are also bound for the NFL draft this April.
Author: Nick Del Duca (@TheFFScout_x)
Jeremiah notes that Mendoza has distanced himself from the rest of this quarterback class. With Mendoza winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Indiana Hoosiers to their first-ever National Championship, his selection as the first overall would be quite the coda to a historic college season. The Raiders are in desperate need of a quarterback, after last season’s acquisition of Geno Smith failed to pan out.
Mendoza’s addition to the Raiders would be a boon for the fantasy value Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and the other precious talent on the Raiders roster. He would bring competent quarterback play to Las Vegas, raising the already sky-high ceilings of Jeanty and Bowers.
Mendoza would also be able to lean on the tutelage of Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. With the writing already on the wall that the Raiders are taking Medoza first overall, fantasy drafters should price in the quarterback’s eventual selection by the Raiders into the fantasy value of Bowers and Jeanty.
Author: Edward DeLauter (@ff_litigator)
Fernando Mendoza led the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated season, 16-0, and a National Championship while taking home the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza now heads to the NFL draft where he’s expected to be the number one overall selection.
Every year there are quarterback needy teams and this year is no different, with the Las Vegas Raiders, the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals all looking for a quarterback. They’re all also picking in the top three of the draft.
Mendoza is clearly the best quarterback in this draft class and will most likely be going first overall. It remains to be seen if that will be the Raiders making the pick or if there’s a team willing to pay the cost of trading up to take Mendoza.
Author: David Leonard Jr. (@RealDelcoDave)
