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Fernando Mendoza would look awfully good in Silver and Black
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Fernando Mendoza would look awfully good in Silver and Black

By Anthony Farris  |  Last updated Dec 7, 2025 9:56 AM ET

If you’re the Las Vegas Raiders, there’s no reason to roll the dice. Keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll get lucky. 

By that, it means the Raiders need to keep losing (which shouldn’t be too hard) and then cash in by selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in April’s NFL Draft. 

Entering Sunday, Vegas holds the fourth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza, especially after his Saturday night magic in the Big Ten Championship Game, is all but certain to be the top QB selected in April, and likely the top pick overall.

Fernando Mendoza could be the franchise QB Raiders are looking for

So, Las Vegas has some work to do, but it is just bad enough to lose out, potentially finish with no more than its current two wins (the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants also have two wins but own worse strengths of schedule, and the Tennessee Titans have just one victory), then grab a franchise savior in Mendoza. 

Though any pregame or postgame interview by Mendoza would suggest he’s more Circuit City than Sin City, the likely Heisman winner is exactly what the Raiders need.

And as a bonus, he's apparently not just the best quarterback in college football, he's also a pseudo-pastor. Or at least that's what his time behind the mic would lead us to believe.

Vegas hasn’t had a true franchise signal-caller since Derek Carr in 2022, and even he always seemed a notch or two below the game’s true game-changers under center. Before Carr, there was a very brief run with Carson Palmer as a seemingly upper-tier QB for the Silver and Black. And, of course, Rich Gannon 20-plus years ago.

Put simply, it can use a talent like Mendoza. He’d instantly make Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers and the rest of the Raiders better. He’s younger and has more upside than the current Raiders QB, Geno Smith. Mendoza’s biggest asset isn’t his size, arm strength or football IQ — all of which are impressive. 

Rather, the QB’s most impressive attribute is having the "it factor." As was the case on what seemed like every third down in the Big Ten Championship Game, Mendoza just gets things done. That's something no one’s been able to do for the Raiders since before the franchise moved to the desert. 

How can Raiders land Fernando Mendoza?

The only thing standing in the way is a seemingly winnable game at home against the Giants in Week 17 that should factor heavily into the NFL Draft order. Before that, Vegas has games with Denver, Philadelphia and Houston before closing the season against Kansas City. It is unlikely to be favored in any of the final five games. 

Assuming the Giants, Saints and Titans (who could very well pick up their second win of the season on Sunday when they visit the Browns) do their part and grab a dub or two over the season’s final five weeks, Mendoza could find himself making his post-college home in Vegas, and the Raiders will have hit the jackpot without having ever left home.

Anthony Farris

Anthony is an Ohio-based writer with more than a decade of writing experience, including stops at FanSided, OutKick, and others. He's a fan of all Cleveland sports, which has, in turn, resulted in high blood pressure and what some might consider a drinking problem. Again, blame Cleveland

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