Derek Carr Delivers Strong Message on Raiders Drafting Fernando Mendoza
During the National Championship, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza was under immense pressure. Not only did he have to play in the biggest game of his life, but the Las Vegas Raiders also sent out much of their ownership group, which included Tom Brady.
Mendoza has been open about how Brady is his football idol, so being able to essentially audition for him was not something he likely took lightly. Though he didn’t put up the gaudy numbers we saw in the first two College Football Playoff games, he did play a clean game and led Indiana to the win.
He’s essentially cemented himself as the future quarterback of the Raiders. Former quarterback Derek Carr raised some eyebrows recently when he suggested that the team should only draft Mendoza if they fix the roster around him.
Some fans took that as him saying that the Raiders shouldn’t draft him at all. Carr made it clear that he wants Mendoza in Las Vegas, but doesn’t want to see him get beat up as a rookie.
“I said they should not take him unless they fix everything else,” Carr said on the “Home Grown” podcast. “For the record, he should absolutely be the first overall pick. … I wanna see him in Silver and Black so bad. I love him. But I don’t want to see him get beat down. … Mendoza’s the No. 1 overall pick, but in free agency, you better spend every bit of your money to put it around him.”
Mel Kiper Jr. Mock Draft Has Mendoza at No. 1
With a lack of competition at quarterback, this might be the least dramatic No. 1 pick in recent memory. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. put out a new mock draft following the National Championship, and he has no doubts the Raiders will take Mendoza.
“This is an easy one. The Raiders traded a third-round pick for Geno Smith less than a year ago, but it hasn’t worked out,” Kiper wrote. “He finished the 2025 season ranked 27th of 28 qualified passers in QBR (34.1), throwing 17 interceptions over 15 games. And with a new coach (to be determined) coming in, it’s time for a fresh start.
“Mendoza could join Joe Burrow and Cam Newton in going undefeated for the season, winning the Heisman Trophy and the national championship, and going No. 1 in the draft all inside a 12-month window. Mendoza transferred to the Hoosiers from Cal and immediately leveled up, throwing 41 touchdown passes and just six interceptions in 2025. I see great ball placement on the tape, and he’s a no-brainer to begin Round 1. Las Vegas could start to build something offensively here with Mendoza, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers.”
Doesn’t Look Like Raiders Will Trade Down
There have been some suggestions that the Raiders don’t have the necessary talent to afford to use the top pick on a quarterback. While that’s somewhat true, the franchise has only had the No. 1 pick twice before.
There’s a very good chance the Raiders won’t have a chance at the No. 1 pick again for a long time. It’s much easier to get the quarterback and build around him than to build out the roster and hope to stumble upon a great quarterback.
