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
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. https://t.co/pIF6TaK2if
— 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 #Raiders loved Fernando Mendoza at No. 1, but expect him to watch early on. pic.twitter.com/JjfHvl8vXR
Happy to announce, Fernando Mendoza is finally back in the workforceRaiders have their QB1 🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/ubCcJPESeX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 24, 2026
List of Heisman-winning QBs who were drafted First Overall in the NFL that are currently active.- Jameis Winston- Baker Mayfield- Kyler Murray- Joe Burrow- Bryce Young- Caleb WilliamsNow Fernando Mendoza. https://t.co/3dg78G0wP5 pic.twitter.com/EhxiTXS26c
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 24, 2026
This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: NFL Draft 2026: Reactions to Raiders taking Fernando Mendoza at No. 1