University of Kwazulu-Natal

2026 Nfl Mock Draft Raiders Select Fernando Mendoza At No 1

Bonisiwe Shabane
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2026 nfl mock draft raiders select fernando mendoza at no 1

The regular season has come to a close, the playoff field is set, and the draft order for every non-playoff team is now official. For draft fans, that’s the real starting line. Here’s a brand-new first-round 2026 mock draft built off the finalized order. As you follow along, you can explore Trevor Sikkema’s full top-300 big board inside the PFF Big Board Tool, giving you every grade and data point you need on the class. Then build out your own rankings with the fully customizable Big Board Builder or run endless draft scenarios in the Mock Draft Simulator. Through the holidays, get 30% off a PFF+ subscription with code HOLIDAY30.

The Raiders are officially on the clock, holding the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Geno Smith remains under contract for 2026, but Las Vegas cannot realistically enter next season with him as the unquestioned starter, especially with a partially or entirely new coaching staff likely coming to town. The Las Vegas Raiders finally catch a break. While the Browns were complicating things for the Steelers in their quest to wrap up the AFC North in Week 17 -- and, in the process, realistically falling out of range for the top... That result puts Las Vegas in pole position to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

There will be debate about whether Mendoza is worth the top pick (he is) or whether other quarterbacks could challenge him for QB1 (they can in theory, but Mendoza is the surest thing as... Either way, a year after passing on Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart at No. 6 in favor of running back Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders have no choice but to draft a quarterback this spring. After that, it's worth watching how the rest of the class shakes out. A long list of quarterbacks has already opted to return to school in 2026 -- either staying put or entering the transfer portal -- which could push QB-needy teams like the Jets, Cardinals, Browns,... In this mock, there are no trades, but three quarterbacks come off the board in the top five, leaving the Browns -- who own two first-round picks in 2026 -- on the outside looking...

Instead, Cleveland addresses wide receiver and offensive line, signaling a commitment to the two rookie quarterbacks it drafted last spring, at least for now. It also means the Cardinals, picking fifth, land Simpson as QB3 in the class -- the third time since 2018 that Arizona has used a high first-round pick on a franchise quarterback. The 2026 NFL Draft order is now set for the non-playoff teams at the end of the 2025 regular season. Outside of the Falcons and Colts, who have traded their first-round picks, 16 teams know for sure when they are picking first on April 23. From the growing obvious choice at the top based on need and talent to the teams who just missed the postseason, here's the latest look at Sporting News' projections also with the College Football... MORE: Ranking NFL playoff teams 1-14 based on Super Bowl 60 chances

Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana (6-5, 225 pounds) With the transfer policy and NIL revenue encouraging players to maximize their college eligibility, the 2026 NFL Draft lacks the bonanza of high-end talent we’ve seen in previous years. That said, there are plenty of future NFL starters — and even stars — at every position available. Like always, the organizations whose scouting and coaching departments are aligned will likely improve their rosters the most with their selections between April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. But therein lies the cold reality. Many of the teams whose seasons just ended are facing massive decisions within their coaching and scouting departments.

The Falcons just dismissed their head coach and general manager and personnel changes are expected elsewhere in the coming days, which will cause ripple effects throughout the league. There's still much to sort out, but the conclusion of the NFL’s regular season Sunday night locked in the selection order for the first 18 picks of the draft. And with the player pool clarifying each day as the college season finishes, we are now on the cusp of "draft season." With that, here's our latest 2026 mock draft. It promises to be a fascinating offseason in Las Vegas, where Geno Smith's future is up in the air after head coach Pete Carroll was fired. Regardless of whether the Raiders bring back Smith, getting a fresh face at the game’s most important position is critical to keeping the fan base believing. Mendoza has looked every bit the No.

1 overall pick in earning the Heisman Trophy and guiding Indiana to a possible national championship. Mendoza’s physical traits — a prototypical frame, lightning-quick release, pocket mobility and accuracy to all levels of the field — warrant a first round selection, but it's his decision-making and poise that has turned... The College Football Playoffs and bowl season are upon us now that the regular season is over. Underclassmen have already started declaring their intention to enter the NFL draft. This class is officially beginning to take shape, but the draft order remains in flux. With the Tennessee Titans’ upset of the Cleveland Browns, a new team controls the first overall pick: the Las Vegas Raiders.

However, the Giants’ remaining strength of schedule is significantly lower than the Raiders and Titans (.317 to .462 to .519), which means the G-Men could overtake the other two two-loss teams and land the... We're down to less than a week left of the NFL regular season in 2025. All but two of the 14 playoff berths have been secured - leaving many teams on the outside looking in for Week 18. Before the regular season finale, many fanbases are already looking ahead to the offseason and how their favorite franchise could improve its roster. The best way to do that is through the NFL Draft, thanks to young, inexpensive talent that can develop into team cornerstones over time. The 2026 NFL Draft class will feature quarterbacks at the top.

How many is a question, as some haven't declared for the draft yet. Beyond that, it will be another good class for defensive line and interior offensive line prospects. It's a standout year for linebackers at a time when the league is desperate for more talent at the position. The top of the draft order changed with Week 17's results. There's a new team at No. 1: the Las Vegas Raiders.

They're now in the driver's seat for the top pick entering the regular season finale. Who they pick and how the rest of the first round will go are burning questions for fans across the country. We've compiled expert predictions from Pro Football Focus, CBS Sports, A to Z Sports and Bleacher Nation to see what every team in the first round could do: This is an automated post onto our collaborative platform by Locked On NFL Draft from YouTube If the video doesn't load/isn't available, you can watch HERE on YouTube Find out how you can earn by sharing this content!

Key conversations center on how the Raiders’ QB pick fits the organization’s culture, intriguing choices like Jeremiyah Love boosting the Kansas City Chiefs’ offense, and why Jordyn Tyson could transform the New Orleans Saints’... Which rookie will have the biggest Year 1 impact? Get insight into the most underrated, surprising, and strategic draft picks—and what they mean for each franchise’s path forward in the NFL. 0:00 Intro & Mock Draft Breakdown 1:16 Top 10 Picks Recap 2:17 Raiders Select Fernando Mendoza 3:59 Franchise-Altering No. 1 Pick 5:30 Shadur Sanders, Browns & Weapon Upgrades 8:33 Cardinals Edge Rusher Pick Explained 13:11 Most Interesting Top 10 Picks Discussion 14:07 Caleb Downs to Commanders Analysis 16:02 Commanders’ Defensive Needs 18:03 Chiefs... The order for the first 18 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft is set.

So it’s a perfect time for our latest mock draft As a new year begins, 14 NFL teams remain alive in the chase for Super Bowl LX. For the other 18 teams, the offseason has already begun. Coaches and general managers are losing their jobs, interviews are being lined up for their successors, and fans are scouring the internet for every little bit of hope. Hope that when this time of the year rolls around next season, their teams will be the ones still alive in the chase for Super Bowl LXI. Of course, the 2026 NFL Draft is a big driver of that hope.

So let’s take a look at how the draft could unfold, now that the order for the first 18 picks has been set. For this exercise there are no trades, and at the end of the draft we look at what teams without a first-round pick might do when they are on the clock. The Las Vegas Raiders finally catch a break. While the Browns were complicating things for the Steelers in their quest to wrap up the AFC North in Week 17 -- and, in the process, realistically falling out of range for the top... That result puts Las Vegas in pole position to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. There will be debate about whether Mendoza is worth the top pick (he is) or whether other quarterbacks could challenge him for QB1 (they can in theory, but Mendoza is the surest thing as...

Either way, a year after passing on Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart at No. 6 in favor of running back Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders have no choice but to draft a quarterback this spring. After that, it's worth watching how the rest of the class shakes out. A long list of quarterbacks has already opted to return to school in 2026 -- either staying put or entering the transfer portal -- which could push QB-needy teams like the Jets, Cardinals, Browns,... In this mock, there are no trades, but three quarterbacks come off the board in the top five, leaving the Browns -- who own two first-round picks in 2026 -- on the outside looking... Instead, Cleveland addresses wide receiver and offensive line, signaling a commitment to the two rookie quarterbacks it drafted last spring, at least for now.

It also means the Cardinals, picking fifth, land Simpson as QB3 in the class -- the third time since 2018 that Arizona has used a high first-round pick on a franchise quarterback. The Las Vegas Raiders finally catch a break. While the Browns were complicating things for the Steelers in their quest to wrap up the AFC North in Week 17 -- and, in the process, realistically falling out of range for the top... That result puts Las Vegas in pole position to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. There will be debate about whether Mendoza is worth the top pick (he is) or whether other quarterbacks could challenge him for QB1 (they can in theory, but Mendoza is the surest thing as... Either way, a year after passing on Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart at No.

6 in favor of running back Ashton Jeanty, the Raiders have no choice but to draft a quarterback this spring. After that, it's worth watching how the rest of the class shakes out. A long list of quarterbacks has already opted to return to school in 2026 -- either staying put or entering the transfer portal -- which could push QB-needy teams like the Jets, Cardinals, Browns,... In this mock, there are no trades, but three quarterbacks come off the board in the top five, leaving the Browns -- who own two first-round picks in 2026 -- on the outside looking... Instead, Cleveland addresses wide receiver and offensive line, signaling a commitment to the two rookie quarterbacks it drafted last spring, at least for now. It also means the Cardinals, picking fifth, land Simpson as QB3 in the class -- the third time since 2018 that Arizona has used a high first-round pick on a franchise quarterback.

The 2025 NFL regular season is in the books! That means 18 teams are looking forward to the 2026 NFL Draft, among other notable offseason events. Who should your team target? We take our latest shots right here. In this mock draft, Charles McDonald makes the odd-numbered picks, and Nate Tice makes the even. Draft order via Tankathon.

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