Fernando Mendoza already learning Raiders offense ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
· Yahoo Sports
Fernando Mendoza has been linked to the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL draft since at least Dec. 13, the day he won the Heisman Trophy.
The Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the draft. All indications are they will select the Indiana Hoosiers quarterback to lead the offense under new head coach Klint Kubiak.
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Mendoza will make his Top 30 visit to Las Vegas this week. Ultimately, NFL teams may invite up to 30 non-local draft prospects for in-person interviews and medical evaluations.
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But analysts say the visit is less “get to know you” and more “let’s get started.”
“This feels kinda less like a formality and more like a preview of what’s to come,” said Alex Belcastro, a sports anchor at KSNV-TV News 3 in Las Vegas. “So take a good look at your quarterback. Reports say Fernando Mendoza has already started learning Klint Kubiak’s offense ahead of the draft.”
Meanwhile, ESPN NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah agrees. During an appearance on the March 27 episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Jeremiah said Mendoza is working with former NFL quarterback Brian Griese to learn the Raiders’ offense.
“Fernando Mendoza is working with Brian Griese right now, and it’s not so much that they’re working on footwork,” Jeremiah said, per SB Nation. “They’re installing the Raiders’ offense. He’s full speed ahead.”
In his only season at Indiana, Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and the program’s first national championship. He completed 273 of 379 passes for 3,535 yards, an FBS-leading 41 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Kubiak took the Raiders job after serving as the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Also, he and Griese worked together on the San Francisco 49ers staff in 2023.
The 2026 NFL Draft is April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. The first round is on ESPN and the NFL Network and streamed on the ESPN app at 8 p.m. ET April 23.