- Heisman Trophy winner Mendoza proclaims he’s coming into the NFL draft
- The Las Vegas Raiders maintain the primary total decide after bottoming out, ending 3-14 this NFL season
- Raiders are nonetheless trying to rent new head coach
The long run path for the Las Vegas Raiders simply bought clearer with the information Friday morning that QB Fernando Mendoza is coming into the NFL draft.
Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers smiles and celebrates after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 within the 2026 Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship at Arduous Rock Stadium Monday in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Picture Patrick Smith/Getty Photographs)
Mendoza made the announcement on his Instagram account. The Raiders are coming off an abysmal season, the place they completed final within the NFL quickly after firing head coach Pete Carroll.
Ending final earned them the No. 1 pick in this spring’s draft, and with the failed experiment of Geno Smith at quarterback, all eyes now flip to Mendoza, who gained the Heisman Trophy and led the No. 1 Indiana Hoosiers to their first nationwide championship this previous season.
ESPN’s Senior NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. had Mendoza going to the Raiders at No. 1 as information broke on Friday morning.
Mel Likes It
“It’s just about a lock for me,” Kiper advised ESPN’s morning panel. “This child was spectacular all through the season. He took the sack whole from 41 all the way down to 18 throughout the common season. He improved within the areas he wanted to. He benefited from 35 begins, expertise being the most effective instructor, within the greatest video games. This child is prepared for the NFL. He’s 22 years of age. The Raiders basically, and the AFC with all these nice quarterbacks, it is a heckuva place to begin. The long run with Mendoza being introduced in because the No. 1 decide total by the Raiders shall be vibrant for Raiders Nation.”
Raiders proprietor Mark Davis, minority proprietor Tom Brady, and Basic Supervisor John Spytek had been all on the Indiana sidelines throughout the Hoosiers’ 27-21 win over Miami within the CFP Nationwide Championship in Miami Monday night time. Mendoza was 16-27, for 186 yards, together with a speeding TD that put the Hoosiers up by 10 factors.
Mendoza at No. 1 is about as clear a choice because the Raiders are going to must make.
Las Vegas Playing: Teaching Replace
The Raiders are nonetheless trying to find a brand new head coach, with vacant jobs being crammed everywhere in the NFL – the most recent being in Baltimore, with the Ravens hiring former LA Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to exchange John Harbaugh.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that Minter had “sturdy curiosity” from the Raiders, in addition to from the Cleveland Browns. Reports say the Raiders accomplished a second interview with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Mike McDaniel continues to be on the market as effectively, and is reportedly being interviewed for the Buffalo Payments job, and is underneath severe consideration for the Chargers’ offensive coordinator opening.
This previous season, Evero helped flip that Panthers unit round. Different candidates for the Raiders embody Payments’ Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady, San Francisco 49ers Offensive Coordinator Klay Kubiak, Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula, and Broncos Quarterbacks Coach Davis Webb.
An offensive-minded coach like Brady, for instance, could be the way in which to go to pair alongside Mendoza.
DraftKings’ 2026 NFL Draft odds on Friday morning put Mendoza at -8000 to go No. 1, with Trinidad Chambliss at +3000, and Rueben Bain Jr. at +4000.
