NFL Draft Tracker 2026

The Raiders have the face of their franchise for the next 15 years, or at least they hope. Mendoza is coming off a year for the ages in which he led Indiana to its first national championship, helping the Hoosiers go unbeaten along the way. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, Mendoza, transferred from California and threw for a nation-high 41 touchdowns against six interceptions while completing 72% of his attempts.

​How he fits with the Raiders: Mendoza will be tasked with resurrecting a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff contest since the 2002 AFC title game. He joins new coach Klint Kubiak in the revival of the Silver & Black, and he’ll have the support of fellow first-round picks in running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers.