From College to NFL: A Historic Season

Mendoza’s arrival in the NFL marks a major moment for the Raiders, a team that has struggled to establish consistency at quarterback in recent years; Since the departure of Derek Carr, the Raiders have cycled through seven starting quarterbacks over three seasons and posted a 15-36 record, according to NFL.com. Mendoza’s performance at Indiana was historic: he led the FBS in passing touchdowns (41) and ranked third in completion rate (72%), and he also won the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, and the Maxwell Award, according to NFL.com and Joyn.

The quarterback transferred to Indiana in 2025 after three years at Cal and flourished under coach Curt Cignetti. His 16-0 season and national championship victory made him one of the most decorated players in college football history. Mendoza joins Joe Burrow and Cam Newton as the only players in the common draft era to win the Heisman Trophy, a national championship, and be selected first overall in the NFL draft in the following season, according to NFL.com.

Speculation and Strategy: A Pragmatic Approach

Despite the consensus among analysts, the Raiders did not finalize their decision without considering trade offers. General Manager John Spytek confirmed at a recent predraft news conference that other franchises had shown interest in trading for the No. 1 pick, according to ekhbary.com. However, Spytek emphasized that the Raiders would only consider offers they deemed compelling. “If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick,” Spytek said.

According to user-generated mock drafts on LAOLA1, Mendoza was the clear favorite for the Raiders at No. 1. The Austrian-based site’s user-submitted draft included Mendoza as the first pick, with the expectation that he would compete with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for the starting role. Mendoza’s combination of leadership, accuracy, and athleticism was highlighted as a key reason for his selection, according to LAOLA1.

A New Era for the Raiders

Mendoza’s selection is expected to bring a fresh direction to the Raiders, a franchise that has made just two playoff appearances in 23 seasons since 2002. The team has not won a postseason game since their Super Bowl appearance in 2002, according to NFL.com. With Mendoza now in the fold, the Raiders hope to establish a long-term foundation at quarterback.

At 22 years old, Mendoza is already one of the most accomplished players in college football history. His 72% completion rate, 3,535 yards, and 41 touchdowns in 16 games this season made him a standout prospect. He is now tasked with leading the Raiders through the challenges of the NFL season, according to Joyn. The team will have a full offseason to evaluate his fit and readiness for the starting role.