The Las Vegas Raiders made a significant decision in the 2026 NFL Draft by selecting Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick. The 22-year-old quarterback, who recently won the Heisman Trophy and led the Indiana Hoosiers to a national championship, is expected to usher in a new era for the franchise. Mendoza's impressive college career included a historic 16-0 season, where he threw 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions and completed 72% of his passes. This championship victory marked Indiana's first national title, a remarkable turnaround for a team that had previously held the most losses in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history. The Raiders, who have not seen sustained success since their last playoff win in 2002, hope Mendoza's selection will revitalize the team. This marks the franchise's first No. 1 pick since JaMarcus Russell in 2007. Mendoza's journey to the top was not easy; despite his achievements, he was overlooked in high school recruiting and began his college career at the California Golden Bears before transferring to Indiana, where he became a standout player.