Fernando Mendoza’s rise from overlooked two-star prospect to the top of the NFL Draft was made official Thursday night when the Las Vegas Raiders selected him with the No. 1 pick.
The Heisman Trophy winner, who led Indiana University to its first national championship, now faces the task of helping rebuild a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in 24 years.
The 22-year-old quarterback chose to stay with his family at home in Miami rather than enter the draft in Pittsburgh. When Commissioner Roger Goodell announced his name, he smiled broadly, donned a Raiders cap and hugged his relatives, saving his mother the longest hug ever.
He will go to Las Vegas on Friday to begin a professional career that once seemed unlikely given the limited college interest he received out of high school.
“The last five months have been such a blessing,” Mendoza said. “I’m looking forward to putting in the work and proving myself at the next level.”
Mendoza wasn’t considered a major league prospect a year ago, but he had a breakout season at Indiana, completing 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. He entered the league determined to silence his critics once again, despite lingering questions about a thin draft class at quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders fans cheer as Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is selected in the first round of the NFL Draft
The first surprise of the night was when the Los Angeles Rams selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, who had started just 15 college games, with the 13th pick. Simpson, one of 16 prospects in attendance at the draft, said he felt completely prepared for the NFL because of Alabama’s system and coaching.
The drama of the draft started early at No. 2, with the New York Jets selecting Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey over Ohio State’s Abel Reese. Arizona then selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love. This was the highest draft pick for a running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018. Tennessee then took Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, making quarterback Cam Ward the new top target.
The Giants selected Reese with the No. 5 pick, adding a potentially elite pass rusher just days after trading for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Kansas City traded to No. 6 in the draft to acquire LSU cornerback Mansour Delane, while Washington strengthened its struggling defense by taking Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles at No. 7.
Texas Tech linebacker David Bailey (right) poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the New York Jets with the second overall pick.
New Orleans selected Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson with the eighth pick, and Cleveland selected Utah State offensive lineman Spencer Fano with the ninth pick. The Giants continued building their line by selecting Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa with the 10th pick in the draft.
Dallas moved up to No. 11 to take Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, and Miami used the next pick on Alabama tackle Kaedin Proctor. Baltimore selected Penn State guard Olaiba Vega Ioane with the 14th pick, and Tampa Bay added Miami edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr. with the 15th pick. This player is considered by many to be a top 10 talent.
The Jets added Oregon State tight end Kenyon Sadik at No. 16. Detroit moved up to No. 17 in a trade for Clemson tackle Blake Miller, and Minnesota took Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks with the next pick. Carolina selected Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling at No. 19, and Philadelphia moved up to No. 20 to take USC receiver Makai Lemon.
Notre Dame running back Jeremiah Love poses after being selected No. 3 overall by the Arizona Cardinals.
Pittsburgh fans were disappointed when the Steelers selected Arizona State tackle Max Iheanakor with the 21st pick, marking the third time in four years that the team has drafted an offensive tackle in the first round. Miami’s Akeem Mesidor went to the Chargers at No. 22, and Central Florida’s Malachi Lawrence went to Dallas at No. 23.
Cleveland selected Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion with the 24th pick, Chicago selected Oregon State safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th pick and Houston selected Georgia Tech guard Keelan Rutledge with the 26th pick. Miami took San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27.
New England moved up to No. 28 and selected Utah tackle Caleb Lomu. Before the draft, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel told reporters he took responsibility for the actions that led to the organization’s chaos, but he did not provide specifics. He will miss the third day of the draft to begin counseling.
Ohio State linebacker Arbel Reese, selected with the fifth overall pick by the New York Giants, poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Kansas City selected Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 29th pick. The Jets acquired the No. 30 pick from San Francisco and selected Indiana wideout Omar Cooper Jr., much to the cheers of their fans. Tennessee moved back into the first round by taking Auburn edge rusher Keldrick Faulk with the 31st pick.
The defending champion Seahawks ended the night by selecting Notre Dame running back Jadarrian Price to replace Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, who signed with Kansas City.
Mendoza joins Cam Ward, Caleb Williams and Bryce Young in entering the league as quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall for four straight years.
None of the past 10 first-round draft picks have won a Super Bowl, but Jared Goff and Joe Burrow have each won a Super Bowl. Still, recent classes have found early success. Four of the six quarterbacks drafted in the top 12 in 2024 have already won in the playoffs, and Drake Maye was the 2025 MVP runner-up.
The first round lasted less than three and a half hours, as each team was given eight minutes per pick instead of 10 minutes.
2026 NFL Draft Complete First Round:
Fernando Mendoza – QB – Las Vegas Raiders David Bailey – EDGE – New York Jets Jeremiah Love – RB – Arizona Cardinals Carnell Tate – WR – Tennessee Titans Abel Reese – EDGE – New York Giants Mansour Delaine – CB – Kansas City Chiefs Sonny Styles – LB – Washington Commanders Jordyn Tyson – WR – New Orleans Saints Spencer Fano – OT – Cleveland Browns Francis Mauigoa – OT – New York Giants Caleb Downs – S – Dallas Cowboys Kadin Proctor – OT – Miami Dolphins Ty Simpson – QB – Los Angeles Rams Olaiva Vega Ioane – G – Baltimore Ravens Ruben Bain Jr. – EDGE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kenyon Sadiq – TE – New York Jets Blake Miller – OT – Detroit Lions Caleb Banks – DT – Minnesota Vikings Monroe Freeling – OT – Carolina Panthers Makai Lemon – WR – Philadelphia Eagles Max Iheanakor – OT – Pittsburgh Steelers Akheem Mesidor – EDGE – Los Angeles Chargers Malachi Lawrence – EDGE – Dallas Cowboys KC Concepcion – WR – Cleveland Browns Dillon Thieneman – S – Chicago Bears Kaylan Rutledge – G – Houston Texans Chris Johnson – CB – Miami Dolphins Caleb Lomu – OT – New England Patriots Peter Woods – DT – Kansas City Chiefs Omar Cooper Jr. – WR – New York Jets Keldrick Faulk – DE – Tennessee Titans Jadarrian Price – RB – Seattle Seahawks
Watch Day 2 of the NFL Draft live from midnight on Friday with Main Event, Action and Mix on Sky Sports. The draft will then conclude with Day 3, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Action from 5pm on Saturday.
