Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the heavy favorite to be selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the April 23, 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, described his formal interview with the team at the NFL Scouting Combine as a standout experience. Speaking to reporters in Indianapolis on February 27, Mendoza said: “I was lucky enough to have a formal interview with the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a fantastic interview. The coaching staff was in there. We went over some of my previous plays, drew some plays on the board.”
The 6-5, 225-pound redshirt junior from Miami led the Hoosiers to an undefeated 16-0 season in 2025, capturing the program’s first national championship and the Heisman Trophy. A former Cal transfer, Mendoza emphasized his growth from a raw high school recruit (ranked 134th at his position) to a polished pro-style passer: “I was raw. I was terrible… It’s all about small wins every day and all about discipline.”
Mendoza highlighted the alignment in offensive philosophy: “They taught me a play, and they had their whole progression of how they teach the quarterbacks to play. And it was very similar to how my Indiana progression was.” He also got a brief phone “hi” from Raiders minority owner and seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady, calling it “very special” and expressing eagerness for mentorship: “Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time by a wide margin. To be able to have the opportunity to be mentored by him would mean so much… I’m all about learning.”
New head coach Klint Kubiak (hired February 9, 2026, after leading Seattle’s offense to a Super Bowl title) and GM John Spytek have signaled strong interest, with Kubiak praising Mendoza as a “winner.” The Raiders, coming off a tough 3-14 season in 2025 and holding the top pick, appear set on addressing their long-standing QB need with Mendoza – a competitive, precise passer with leadership traits focused on playing well and earning teammate respect through work ethic and tenacity.
Mendoza remains humble about the process: “I know they had the perspective of the number one pick, but anything could happen in the draft. I’m just excited for the opportunity. And whatever team drafts me, I’m going to give everything I got to them.”
This could mark a turning point for the Silver and Black – pairing a Heisman-winning, championship-proven QB with Brady’s guidance and a fresh coaching vision. Raider fans, are you ready for the Mendoza era?
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