Klint Kubiak gives hint on if Raiders 'want' to draft Fernando Mendoza

While speaking at the ongoing NFL Scouting Combine about what he will be looking for in a potential franchise quarterback, Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek listed numerous traits that scouts say Indiana Hoosiers star Fernando Mendoza possesses. 

Later, recently hired Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak offered yet another hint that he and Spytek are ready to make Mendoza the first overall pick of this year's NFL Draft. 

Fernando Mendoza has the one main trait Raiders want in a QB1

"Excited to keep learning about him, and it's not just me, it's our entire coaching staff," Kubiak said about Mendoza, as Levi Edwards of the Raiders' website shared on Wednesday. "I want all of our coaches to get involved, especially at that position. I want everybody's input, but obviously, he's been successful. He had a lot of success last year. He won a national championship, and that's what you want. You want a winner."

Mendoza has received praise for the physical attributes he displayed while guiding Indiana to a national title, as well as for qualities related to his leadership and work ethic. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. is among those who have ranked Mendoza, seen as quite the "coachable" quarterback, as the top overall prospect of the 2026 draft class.

"I always look at, 'Is this a person I can coach? Is this a coachable person?'" Kubiak said about speaking with Mendoza and other players at the combine. "When you're talking to them in the interview, and you're bringing up their tape, did they have all the answers for you, or are they coachable? You have an 18-minute window to kind of get into that and see what that person is like. ...Once they're yours, they're yours for a long time, and you've got to make sure you can help them get better."

Are Raiders open to keeping Geno Smith as a mentor for Fernando Mendoza?

Many assume the Raiders will part ways with 2025 Week 1 starting quarterback Geno Smith before Smith is due to receive an additional $8M in fully guaranteed salary for 2026 on March 13. According to Kevin Patra of the NFL's website, Kubiak hinted that he's willing to hold onto Smith beyond that date. 

"(We're) looking at all options right now," Kubiak added. "Watching Geno play last year, (I'm) obviously pretty familiar with what he had done before; putting all on the table right now, trying to see every possible avenue we can go next year at quarterback, and he's definitely one of those options."