Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza joined the Las Vegas Raiders because the primary general NFL Draft 2026 decide on Thursday.
The 22-year-old gained the Heisman Trophy for one of the best school participant after main his workforce to the nationwide championship.
Raiders normal supervisor John Spytek known as Mendoza “an awesome individual”. “He’s about the suitable issues: it’s about his workforce, it’s about profitable,” added Spytek.
101GreatGoals.com takes a have a look at the primary decide within the draft and has the total first spherical outcomes, in addition to particulars on tips on how to comply with the forthcoming rounds.
Why the Las Vegas Raiders have signed Fernando Mendoza
The 6ft 4in sensation was the Massive Ten Convention Offensive Participant of the 12 months, Quarterback of the 12 months and named within the first-team All-Massive Ten.
“He’s simply so hungry for something soccer,” noticed Spytek. “Anyone he’s round that he can draw one thing from or be taught one thing from, he’s into it.
“There’s a humility to him that I actually respect. That may be underrated in our occupation – particularly with the gamers – however there’s a humility and a self consciousness to him that he is aware of this can be a actually huge bounce.
“We’re going to help him organizationally one of the best that we are able to. He is aware of that the blokes in that room, Kirk [cousins] and Aidan [O’Connell], have performed quite a lot of good soccer on this league and I’m positive he’ll be taught so much from them, and he is aware of that.
“[For him] it’s about doing the suitable factor, being accountable to the entire group. It’s little or no to do with all of the accolades he received after [Indiana] gained all these video games.
“He’s actually good. He works actually arduous. This implies so much to him. I don’t suppose that being the primary general decide and profitable the Heisman and all of the issues that he’s gotten will change him.
“I believe it can really make him work more durable to show that he’s price all that after which earn much more.”
John Spytek addresses the media to recap Spherical 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft. https://t.co/iZean2rTr1
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 24, 2026
Tom Brady: Las Vegas Raiders co-owner ‘wished Mendoza greatest’
Mendoza, who didn’t attend the ceremony, has stated that working with Raiders co-owner and NFL icon Tom Brady “would imply the world”.
“He’s said that he’s going to pour into no matter quarterback they take,” Mendoza instructed The Rich Eisner Show of Brady.
“To have that chance can be nice. He’d be a boss, so it wouldn’t be like six-year-old Fernando envisioned it – being greatest buddies.
“It’d be cool and I need to be pushed to be one of the best quarterback I can grow to be, say what I’m all about and reside that have.”
Mendoza had already spoken to seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion Brady and visited the Raiders’ services earlier than the draft.
“He was on FaceTime for round 15 seconds, simply saying hiya and good luck,” Mendoza defined.
“He wished me one of the best. To see the involvement that workforce has with its possession from the highest down may be very invigorating and really thrilling.”
Fernando Mendoza stats: Quarterback’s file
Since 2024, Mendoza has thrown 39 touchdowns with no interceptions within the purple zone, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus (by way of NFL.com).
Born in Boston, the California graduate joined Indiana and posted 3,535 passing yards with a 41-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
He rushed for seven scores throughout an undefeated 16-game season for Indiana, culminating in a 27-21 championship win over Miami.
NFL Draft 2026 outcomes: First spherical picks
Right here’s the total record of picks from the primary spherical, which passed off on April 24, 2026.
| Choose | Group | Participant | Place | College |
| 1 | Las Vegas Raiders | Fernando Mendoza | QB | Indiana |
| 2 | New York Jets | David Bailey | LB | Texas Tech |
| 3 | Arizona Cardinals | Jeremiyah Love | RB | Notre Dame |
| 4 | Tennessee Titans | Carnell Tate | WR | Ohio State |
| 5 | New York Giants | Arvell Reese | LB | Ohio State |
| 6 | Kansas Metropolis Chiefs | Mansoor Delane | CB | LSU |
| 7 | Washington Commanders | Sonny Kinds | LB | Ohio State |
| 8 | New Orleans Saints | Jordyn Tyson | WR | Arizona State |
| 9 | Cleveland Browns | Spencer Fano | OT | Utah |
| 10 | New York Giants | Francis Mauigoa | OT | Miami |
| 11 | Dallas Cowboys | Caleb Downs | S | Ohio State |
| 12 | Miami Dolphins | Kadyn Proctor | OT | Alabama |
| 13 | Los Angeles Rams | Ty Simpson | QB | Alabama |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Vega Ioane | G | Penn State |
| 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Rueben Bain Jr. | DE | Miami |
| 16 | New York Jets | Kenyon Sadiq | TE | Oregon |
| 17 | Detroit Lions | Blake Miller | OT | Clemson |
| 18 | Minnesota Vikings | Caleb Banks | DE | Florida |
| 19 | Carolina Panthers | Monroe Freeling | OT | Georgia |
| 20 | Philadelphia Eagles | Makai Lemon | WR | USC |
| 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Max Iheanachor | OT | Arizona State |
| 22 | Los Angeles Chargers | Akheem Mesidor | LB | Miami |
| 23 | Dallas Cowboys | Malachi Lawrence | DE | UCF |
| 24 | Cleveland Browns | KC Concepcion | WR | Texas A&M |
| 25 | Chicago Bears | Dillon Thieneman | S | Oregon |
| 26 | Houston Texans | Keylan Rutledge | G | Georgia Tech |
| 27 | Miami Dolphins | Chris Johnson | CB | San Diego State |
| 28 | New England Patriots | Caleb Lomu | OT | Utah |
| 29 | Kansas Metropolis Chiefs | Peter Woods | DT | Clemson |
| 30 | New York Jets | Omar Cooper Jr. | WR | Indiana |
| 31 | Tennessee Titans | Keldric Faulk | DE | Auburn |
| 32 | Seattle Seahawks | Jadarian Value | RB | Notre Dame |
When is the remainder of the NFL Draft? US and UK occasions 2026
Rounds two and three are on Friday, adopted by rounds 4 to seven on Saturday.
Asterisk denotes begin time subsequent day.
| Date | Spherical | ET begin time | PT | BST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Apr 24 | 2-3 | 19:00 | 16:00 | 00:00 |
| Sat, Apr 25 | 4-7 | 12:00 | 09:00 | 17:00 |
The place to observe the NFL Draft 2026 within the US and UK
Within the US, followers can watch the Draft on ABC, ESPN and the NFL Network.
ABC is obtainable via ESPN Plus, beginning at $29.99 per thirty days.
Disney Plus and Hulu may even stream ESPN, ABC and ESPN Deportes’ NFL Draft shows all through the occasion.
Within the UK, the Draft is free to observe on DAZN’s NFL Game Pass.
Methods to watch the NFL Draft 2026: TV channel, reside on-line stream
The entire broadcast platforms can be found on an unlimited number of gadgets together with TVs and have accompanying ESPN and DAZN apps.
