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3 Round 2026 Nfl Mock Draft Fernando Mendoza And Dante Moore Battle It

Bonisiwe Shabane
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3 round 2026 nfl mock draft fernando mendoza and dante moore battle it

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. More 2026 NFL mock drafts: 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 The Raiders need a quarterback. 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.

The NFL Draft is quietly sneaking up on us as the new year approaches in just 16 days. With the new year will come a new NFL Draft class that will be expected to impact the NFL and the teams that make the picks looking to make a quick turnaround. However, compared to recent classes, the star quarterback options are going to be VERY limited. There will be Heisman Trophy Winner Fernando Mendoza, but beyond that, the class seems to be thin. Oregon's Dante Moore is undecided as to whether he will be in the draft, but a strong playoff performance could sway him one way. Beyond them, though, the talent is murky, and this is very much going to favor teams in need of defensive help for next season.

Can stars emerge from the ashes of this class when things are settled? Of course, but the odds are always stacked against them. For now, though, we are playing the eternal optimist as we are sure every team will love all their picks on their way to feeling this is the answer to their Super Bowl absenteeism. The New York Giants will not be needing a quarterback, though they might down the road if they keep having Jaxson Dart play like a fullback. So that means that they are trading this pick to the Arizona Cardinals as they remain in quarterback purgatory with Kyler Murray's massive contract and a willingness to move on from him. They will need someone on the cheap end of things, and you could do worse in the Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza.

The Raiders are a roster that has a lot of holes, but they do have a veteran quarterback in Geno Smith. Because of that, Dante Moore is going to Las Vegas as they spend another year building the roster up, but he can at least sit behind Smith and develop a bit more. 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... With only two games left before a national champion is crowned, the College Football Playoff Semifinals deliver a headline matchup that transcends wins and losses. When Indiana and Oregon meet again, the spotlight won’t just be on schemes or star receivers, it will be firmly fixed on the two quarterbacks at the center of it all. Fernando Mendoza vs.

Dante Moore isn’t just a rematch. It’s a referendum on the future of the 2026 NFL Draft. Both quarterbacks have been elite this season, and many evaluators already view them as the two best quarterback prospects in college football. Now, with a trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship on the line, this semifinal matchup becomes “good on good” at the highest level, two premier signal-callers, two elite defenses, and a chance... Dante Moore has completed a combined 45 of 60 passes for 547 yards in Oregon's two Playoff wins. Kevin C.

Cox / Getty Images Several potential top-20 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft are still busy with the College Football Playoff, so NFL front offices will have to wait a little longer to find exactly who’s going to... Will Oregon QB Dante Moore and Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza join the ’26 draft class? (TCU quarterback Josh Hoover announcing his transfer to Indiana probably gives us a hint at the latter’s decision.) Are both of Miami’s standout underclassmen, Francis Mauigoa and Rueben Bain Jr., going to take the... Could Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss shake up the entire quarterback group? We’ll get all of those answers in the coming weeks.

With the NFL regular season coming to an end in dramatic fashion Sunday night, though, let’s take a look at how Round 1 could play out: It’s time for Tom Brady and company to rip the cord on a quarterback. So long as he declares, Moore would be an exciting choice. The 20-year-old QB is light on experience, but his blend of football IQ, athletic instinct, poise and arm talent is beyond his years. He has the right mindset for a challenge like this and offers a skill set worth investing in. Fernando Mendoza and top-seeded Indiana will take on Alabama in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Michael Reaves / Getty Images The race for the NFL’s worst record has a firm leader heading into the final lap. At 2-14 with one game left (versus the Chiefs), the Raiders are the current favorites to land the No. 1 pick for the 2026 NFL Draft. Four three-win teams remain right behind Las Vegas: the Giants (versus Dallas in Week 18), Jets (at Buffalo), Titans (at Jacksonville) and Cardinals (at Rams). While we wait for the final non-playoff teams to settle into place, here’s a look at how the first 18 picks of this year’s draft — everything up until the postseason cutline — could...

Once again, the Raiders need an awful lot, but they’ve kicked the QB can down the road long enough. 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 2025 NFL regular season now officially in the books, the top of the order of the 2026 draft is locked into place. For fans of the teams that failed to book a postseason trip, the focus shifts to the future—and the offseason moves that could change their teams’ fortunes. The draft is the best way for bad teams to rebuild. The draft represents hope. Every player that’s picked in the first round could be the catalyst of a new era of success for the team that takes him. It’s still really early in the draft process, and a handful of the biggest names in draft conversations right now could still decide to return to school for another year.

But that’s not going to stop me from building my first mock draft of the season. Using the current draft order via Tankathon, let’s dig into what the first round could look like. The Geno Smith experiment has not gone as the Raiders had hoped, leaving Las Vegas with a massive need at the most important position in sports. The team addresses that hole here, taking a polished and steely signal caller in Mendoza. The Hoosiers star and Heisman winner is an accurate rhythm passer who helped elevate the Indiana football program to new heights. The Raiders surely hope that Mendoza can do that with their franchise as well.

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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 fi...

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