Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza as the 2026 NFL Draft’s first overall pick. The announcement took place on Thursday night during the opening ceremony of the event held at Pittsburgh, at Pensilvânia. Mendoza arrives in the professional league after a historic season with Indiana’s Universidade. Ele led Hoosiers to the college football title and won the prestigious Troféu Heisman.
Nevada’s franchise prioritized the reconstruction of the offensive sector after irregular seasons and the recent release of veteran Geno Smith. Mendoza, who stands 1.95 m tall, is seen by analysts as the pillar for a new era in Las Vegas. The 22-year-old recorded impressive numbers in his final year with College, totaling 48 total touchdowns and more than 3,500 aerial yards. Sua passing accuracy reached 72% in Indiana’s undefeated campaign.
All 32 picks from Round 1 📈 pic.twitter.com/xDEHAXQcMM
— NFL (@NFL) April 24, 2026
Trajetória from Fernando Mendoza from College to the top of the NFL
The rise of Raiders’s new quarterback is considered unusual in the North American sports scene. Saindo from high school, Mendoza was not listed among the top prospects in the country, receiving few offers from elite universities. Inicialmente, he opted for Universidade from Califórnia, where he majored in management before transferring to Indiana.
In just one year with Hoosiers, he transformed the institution’s sports program. Mendoza became the first athlete in the university’s history to win the Heisman, an award given to the best player of the university season. Sua voting was the seventh highest ever recorded in the history of the honor, cementing his position as the clear favorite for this year’s Draft.
- Origem: Miami, Flórida, with Cuban roots
- Formação academic: Graduado in administration by Califórnia
- Títulos: College Football’s national Campeão in 2026
- Estatísticas: 41 touchdowns thrown and 7 rushing in a single year
- Físico: 1.95 meters tall and a classic passer body type
Domínio of quarterbacks in the first overall pick
The selection of Mendoza continues a clear trend of NFL franchises in recent decades. It is the fourth consecutive year that a quarterback position player is the first to be recruited. Desde the early 2000s, on 19 occasions a pitcher was the starting pick of the teams that held possession of the first call.
Apenas in 2022 this sequence was interrupted, when the first quarterback only came out in 20th position. Recentemente, names like Bryce Young, Caleb Williams and Cam Ward occupied the position that now belongs to the Indiana player. Para or Raiders, the movement seeks to end a fast of positive records that has lasted since 2021.
Pittsburgh registers record attendance on the first day of the event
2026’s Draft drew a crowd to the streets of Pittsburgh, surpassing previous in-person audience marks. Cerca of 320 thousand fans watched the first round teams around the main stage. Mendoza, however, was not present at the scene. Ele preferred to follow the definition of his professional future alongside his family, at Flórida.
Mesmo from a distance, the athlete appeared on the event’s screens shortly after the official announcement made by the league commissioner. The reaction of the player and his family was broadcast live to the audience present at Pensilvânia. The event continues this Friday with the definitions of the second and third rounds.
Lista complete Draft 2026 first round selections
The initial round saw 32 players recruited and several strategic exchanges between the franchises. Equipes, like New York Jets and New York Giants, looked for defensive and offensive line reinforcements in the first minutes. Confira the list of selected athletes:
- QB Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) — Raiders
- Edge David Bailey (Texas Tech) — Jets
- RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) — Cardinals
- WR Carnell Tate (Ohio State) — Titans
- Edge Arvell Reese (Ohio State) — Giants
- CB Mansoor Delane (LSU) — Chiefs
- LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State) — Commanders
- WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) — Saints
- OT Spencer Fano (Utah) — Browns
- OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami) — Giants
- S Caleb Downs (Ohio State) — Cowboys
- OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) — Dolphins
- QB Ty Simpson (Alabama) — Rams
- G Olaivavega Ioane (Penn State) — Ravens
- Edge Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami) — Buccaneers
- TE Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) — Jets
- OT Blake Miller (Clemson) — Lions
- DT Caleb Banks (Florida) — Vikings
- OT Monroe Freeling (Georgia) — Panthers
- WR Makai Lemon (USC) — Eagles
- OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) — Steelers
- Edge Akheem Mesidor (Miami) — Chargers
- Edge Malachi Lawrence (UCF) — Cowboys
- WR KC Concepcion (Texas A&M) — Browns
- S Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) — Bears
- G Keylan Rutledge (Georgia Tech) — Texans
- CB Chris Johnson (San Diego State) — Dolphins
- OT Caleb Lomu (Utah) — Patriots
- DT Peter Woods (Clemson) — Chiefs
- WR Omar Cooper (Indiana) — Jets
- Edge Keldric Faulk (Auburn) — Titans
- RB Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) — Seahawks
