Why Jets drafted David Bailey instead of Arvell Reese at No. 2 in NFL Draft
Jets draft David Bailey instead of Arvell Reese at No. 2 in NFL Draft
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. This move aims to strengthen their quarterback position after a challenging previous season.
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Raiders select Fernando Mendoza with No. 1 overall pick in NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 NFL Draft is officially underway, with 32 new players joining the league on the first night of the event.
Unsurprisingly, Fernando Mendoza was the first player to get selected, as the Las Vegas Raiders snagged him with the No. 1 overall pick.
The Raiders now possess an ideal quarterback room after a miserable 2025-26 campaign marked by subpar play at the position. In addition to adding Mendoza to the roster, Las Vegas signed Kirk Cousins earlier in the offseason to give their franchise signal-caller a veteran mentor to learn from.
Contrary to popular belief, thereās a legitimate possibility that Cousins could begin the 2026-27 season as the Raidersā No. 1 quarterback, which could prove to be a move that helps Mendoza more than it would hurt him.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love sat behind Aaron Rodgers for multiple years before taking the reins in 2023. While many believed that Green Bayās decision to keep Love on the sidelines would be detrimental to his development, it helped him pick up helpful pointers from the Packers legend and be a high-impact contributor upon receiving the starting job.
Mendoza could find himself in a similar situation with the Raiders, though it's unlikely heāll be QB No. 2 for the first three years of his career. Still, the Indiana product may not receive the keys from the get-go, and thatās perfectly fine.
Fernando Mendoza was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mendoza's addition, alongside veteran Kirk Cousins, aims to improve the Raiders' quarterback performance after a disappointing 2025-26 season.
Yes, there is a possibility that Kirk Cousins could begin the 2026-27 season as the Raiders' starting quarterback.
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