Raiders Select Fernando Mendoza First Overall In 2026 NFL Draft

There aren’t many sure things in Las Vegas, but 2025 Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza being taken with the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Raiders was a virtual lock and the Silver and Black made it official on Thursday (April 23) by taking the Indiana QB to kick off the draft in Pittsburgh.

While NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the pick from the NFL Draft stage outside of the Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium, Mendoza was with family and friends in Miami, Fla., celebrating his new job and, we assume, updating his famous LinkedIn page.

“The last five months have been such a blessing,” Mendoza told ESPN from his home. “I’m just looking forward to getting to work and prove myself at the next level. College was fantastic. I’m blessed to have this career. But now I step into a great game in the NFL. I look forward to earning it every single day.

“(Las Vegas is) a great organization with a great legacy. There’s so many teammates I’m looking forward to talking to. I’m ecstatic for the opportunity.”

Mendoza is the 26th Heisman winner selected first overall and the sixth winner taken atop the draft among the last nine. That includes Jayden Daniels going second behind first overall Caleb Williams in 2024.

The Hoosier star is the fifth straight Heisman winner selected among the top 2 picks, the ninth straight winner drafted in the top 10 and the 17th Heisman winner taken in the first round among the past 18 winners. The lone outlier is Derrick Henry, who was a second-round pick in 2016 and the 45th pick overall.

The previous eight winners taken among the top 10 NFL draft picks are Travis Hunter (2025, 2nd), Daniels to Washington (2024, 2nd), Williams to Chicago (2024, 1st), Bryce Young to Carolina (2023, 1st), DeVonta Smith to Philadelphia (2021, 10th), Joe Burrow to Cincinnati (2020, 1st), Kyler Murray to Arizona (2019, 1st) and Baker Mayfield to Cleveland (2018, 1st).

Mendoza is also the 45th Heisman winner selected in the top 5 and the 63rd recipient taken in the first round.

The Raiders have a long history with the Heisman Trophy. Mendoza is the fifth Heisman winner drafted by the franchise and he will be the 11th Heisman winner to don the silver and black.

The previous Heisman winners drafted by the Raiders are Charles Woodson (fourth overall in 1998), Tim Brown (sixth overall in 1988), Bo Jackson (seventh round in 1987) and Marcus Allen (10th overall in 1983). Jackson was drafted first overall in 1986, but eschewed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to start his Major League Baseball career with the Kansas City Royals.

Other Heisman winners who have played for the Raiders include Billy Cannon, Jim Plunkett, Desmond Howard, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Marcus Mariota.

Only four NFL franchises have drafted more Heisman winners than the Raiders. Detroit has drafted 10 while the Los Angeles Rams (including their time in St. Louis) have drafted eight. Washington and Tennessee (including its time as the Houston Oilers) have drafted six apiece.

Mendoza’s fellow 2025 Heisman finalist Jeremiyah Love was drafted with the third overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, ninth in the 2025 Heisman balloting, was drafted 11th overall by the Dallas Cowboys.