Instant reactions to Fernando Mendoza drafted 1st overall by Raiders

TL;DR

The Las Vegas Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, led Indiana to its first national championship and is the second player from IU to be drafted first overall.

Key points

Fernando Mendoza was drafted first overall by the Raiders.
He won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to a national championship.
Mendoza is the second player from Indiana University to be drafted first overall.

Fernando MendozaIndiana HoosiersHeisman TrophyLas Vegas Raiders

As was widely expected, the Las Vegas Raiders made Fernando Mendoza the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft. The 2025 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback led the Hoosiers to their first national championship in program history this past season. Now, he becomes the second IU player to be drafted with the first pick, the first since Corbett Davis in 1938. Mendoza was an unheralded recruit and accrued minimal offers out of high school. He began his career at Cal before transferring to Indiana this past offseason to join forces with coach Curt Cignetti. Now, he joins first-year Raiders coach Klint Kubiak and will compete with Kirk Cousins for the starting job.

The moment Fernando Mendoza became a Las Vegas Raider 🥹 pic.twitter.com/qt6MM8jkeS

— ESPN (@espn) April 24, 2026 Here's how the internet reacted to Mendoza's selection. The Raiders selecting Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 puts him alongside Joe Burrow, Jameis Winston and Cam Newton as the only QBs since 1967 to win the Heisman Trophy, a national title and go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2026 A lot can change in a year: this time in 2025, Fernando Mendoza was nowhere on NFL Draft boards. 365 days later, he’s a Heisman winner, national champ and the No. 1 overall pick.

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz\_Report) April 24, 2026 RAIDERS TAKE INDIANA QB AND HEISMAN WINNER FERNANDO MENDOZA 1ST OVERALL 🚨

Time for the National Champion to update that LinkedIn 🏴‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/nY5KtH0guY

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 24, 2026 From The NFL Draft: The loved Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, but expect him to watch early on.

Q&A

Who is Fernando Mendoza and why was he drafted first overall?

Fernando Mendoza is a quarterback who won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to its first national championship, making him a top prospect for the NFL Draft.

What significance does Mendoza's selection have in NFL history?

Mendoza joins a select group of quarterbacks who have won the Heisman Trophy, a national title, and been drafted first overall since 1967, including notable names like Joe Burrow and Cam Newton.

How did Mendoza's career progress before being drafted by the Raiders?

Mendoza started his career at Cal, transferred to Indiana, and went from being an unheralded recruit to a Heisman winner and national champion within a year.