Raiders Shouldn't Sign a QB to Start Over Potential No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza Amid NFL Rumors

The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23 from Pittsburgh and all signs point to the storied franchise selecting Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Fernando Mendoza from the University of Indiana.

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that "If the Raiders continue to lean toward drafting Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in April's draft, their preference is to not start him immediately." She added that the organization will bring in a veteran QB this offseason.

That would be a mistake.

Yes, there are questions about Mendoza being pro-ready and sitting behind an experienced quarterback and learning may be best for him. However, there is reason to believe he would be better off starting immediately.

In 2025, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix all reached at least the divisional round of the playoffs in their second seasons in the league.

All three started their rookie season, and while there were proverbial bumps in the road, there is a real argument to be made that all were better for having gotten that experience out of the way early on so they could grow and evolve into Super Bowl-contending quarterbacks in year two.

Cam Ward in Tennessee, last year's No. 1 overall pick, started every game for the Titans in 2025 and while it was not pretty, he matured over the course of the year and played his best ball late in the season.

The Raiders are so far behind the rest of the league at this point that delaying the inevitable with Mendoza will only hurt the Hoosier signal caller. He has momentum on his side following a tremendous college season in which he was clearly the best player in the country.

Why risk losing that for the sake of having him sit behind, checks notes, Malik Willis, Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Aaron Rodgers, or Jimmy Garroppolo? Best case scenario, he learns a little but still delays his adaptation to the pro game. Worst case scenario, someone like Murray balls out in a new environment and the Raiders are left with a quarterback controversy on their hands when they can least afford one.

Mendoza is a smart player, completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. He was meticulous, avoided the big mistake, and led his team to dominant, one-sided victories.

The transition to the NFL is rarely easy but if he can play within himself, as he did at Indiana, there is no reason to believe that he cannot be a difference maker for the Raiders from day one. If the franchise is willing to take him at the most pressure-packed spot in the draft, it must also believe in him to be able to lead the team immediately.

Otherwise, it is only prolonging what has already been 24 years of frustration, heartbreak, and subpar football.