Fernando Mendoza, the No 1 pick of NFL Draft to the Raiders, tasked with returning a legacy franchise to glory

The artifact astir Fernando Mendoza’s location successful Coral Gables, Florida was roped disconnected by aboriginal day connected Thursday and the roast pig – a lechon asado to Cubans similar the Mendozas – was successful the Caja China each day.

No, Mendoza didn’t marque it to Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL draft. But his family's draught enactment successful South Florida was, by each accounts, epic.

And that’s the mode it should beryllium due to the fact that it was befitting of Mendoza being selected by the Las Vegas Raiders arsenic the archetypal wide prime of the draft.

Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza speaks to the media during the College Football Playoff National Championship crippled media time astatine the Miami Beach Convention Center successful Miami Beach, Fla., connected Jan. 17, 2026. (Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)

"The past 5 period person been specified a blessing by God, I can't convey him enough," Mendoza said successful his archetypal interrogation aft being selected. "I'm conscionable looking guardant to get to work, amended astatine the adjacent level. College was fantastic. I'm truthful bless to person that career.

"But present I measurement into a large game, the NFL, look guardant to proving and earning it each azygous day."

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Not atrocious for a kid who utilized to occasionally confess to family, friends and teammates, "I don't ideate myself a precocious draught pick."

That each changed erstwhile Mendoza transferred to Indiana University earlier the 2025 season, and retired of that improbable assemblage shot powerfulness came the improbable Heisman Trophy winner, nationalist title winning quarterback, and archetypal prime successful the draft.

The Raiders utilized lone a infinitesimal oregon 2 of the 8 allotted earlier turning successful their paper to the NFL for Mendoza.

Only successful America.

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The Raiders judge successful Mendoza. But the Raiders enactment is rife with backmost misfires successful its caller history.

Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the archetypal fractional of the College Football Playoff nationalist title crippled successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

The nine signed Geno Smith to marque them a contender past play nether manager Pete Carroll. Smith led the NFL with 17 interceptions, Carroll was fired, and the squad was truthful atrocious arsenic to "earn" the archetypal prime successful this draft.

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Before that, Gardner Minshew failed arsenic a span backmost and Aidan O’Connell didn’t rather make into a dependable starter.

Before that, Jimmy Garoppolo signed arsenic a escaped cause but was often injured and inconsistent erstwhile healthy. He started lone six games successful 2023 and was released the pursuing offseason.

Before that, it was Derek Carr, mostly functional during his time, getting benched successful 2022 and yet released.

You get the point. It's been awhile since Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett oregon adjacent Rich Gannon won a Super Bowl for the franchise.

Mendoza is expected to crook that bittersweet communicative around. But it won’t needfully beryllium close away. The Raiders signed seasoned Kirk Cousins earlier this offseason arsenic a span starter portion Mendoza learns and develops.

The rookie volition person immoderate time. But not forever.

A person look wrong the NFL Draft Theater from extracurricular Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh, Pa., connected April 22, 2026. (IMAGN / Beaver County Times)

He’s been drafted to assistance a bequest franchise backmost to glory. But that won't beryllium an casual duty due to the fact that different franchises volition get a ballot whether it happens.

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Mendoza goes to the AFC West wherever it is intolerable to triumph without outstanding backmost play.

The Kansas City Chiefs person owned the part since Patrick Mahomes became their starting backmost successful 2018. They won it 7 consecutive times until falling backmost past season.

The Denver Broncos won the part past play due to the fact that they person 1 of the NFL’s rising quarterbacks successful Bo Nix, who came adjacent to a 4,000-yard play successful 2025.

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The Los Angeles Chargers made the playoffs a play agone and Justin Herbert typically is among the league leaders successful passing yards (9th past year) and touchdown passes (tied for seventh).

Now the Raiders reply with Fernando Mendoza – officially the No. 1 prime successful the 2026 draft.