Published on: January 23, 2026, at 11:44 AM.

Updated on: January 23, 2026, at 11:46 AM.

• Heisman Trophy laureate Mendoza announces his entry to the NFL draft
• Las Vegas Raiders secure the top overall pick after a dismal season, finishing 3-14
• Raiders continue their search for a new head coach

The future trajectory of the Las Vegas Raiders became clearer this morning following the announcement that quarterback Fernando Mendoza has declared for the NFL draft.

Mendoza shared his decision on Instagram. The Raiders are emerging from a troubling season, which resulted in them finishing last in the league after letting go of head coach Pete Carroll. Their poor performance, however, secured them the coveted No. 1 pick in this upcoming draft. Following the disappointing stint of Geno Smith at quarterback, all eyes are now set on Mendoza, who recently claimed the Heisman Trophy and led the Indiana Hoosiers to their inaugural national championship.

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN’s Senior NFL Draft Analyst, projected Mendoza as the Raiders’ top pick right as the news broke today.

Mel’s Take

“In my opinion, it’s practically a done deal,” he shared with ESPN’s morning team. “This kid was phenomenal throughout the entire season. He reduced his sack count from 41 to just 18 this past regular season. He sharpened his skills in key areas. With 35 starts under his belt, experience is indeed invaluable, especially in high-pressure scenarios. He’s ready for the NFL at 22 years old. Given the competitive landscape of quarterbacks in the AFC, this is an exceptional opportunity for him. The future looks promising for Raiders Nation with Mendoza poised to be the No. 1 overall pick.”

Raiders owner Mark Davis, co-owner Tom Brady, and general manager John Spytek were present on the sidelines during the Hoosiers’ championship victory against Miami, where Mendoza completed 16 of 27 passes for 186 yards and a rushing touchdown that put the team ahead by 10 points.

Picking Mendoza at No. 1 seems to be one of the clearest decisions the Raiders will face this offseason.

Las Vegas Update: Coaching Changes

The Raiders continue their search for a new head coach as vacancies are being filled across the NFL, including the Ravens recently hiring former L.A. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to take over from John Harbaugh.

Tom Pelissero from NFL Network indicated that Minter has drawn “significant interest” from the Raiders, alongside the Cleveland Browns. Additionally, reports suggest that the Raiders have conducted a second interview with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. Mike McDaniel is another candidate still in play, currently interviewing for the Buffalo Bills job while also being considered for the offensive coordinator role with the L.A. Chargers.

This past season, Evero played a significant role in improving the Panthers’ defense, ranking No. 16 in the league for yards allowed and No. 15 for points permitted. Other coaching prospects include Bills’ offensive coordinator Joe Brady, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb.

Going in the direction of an offensive-minded coach like Brady could be a strategic move to complement Mendoza’s skill set.

As of this morning, DraftKings has listed Mendoza’s odds for being the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at -8000, with Trinidad Chambliss at +3000, and Rueben Bain Jr. at +4000.