Most signs point to the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Fernando Mendoza with the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. What is much less certain, however, are Mendoza’s chances of becoming a star in the pros.
One concern surrounding Mendoza is whether the Indiana Hoosiers product will be able to adapt to a pro-style offense after heavily relying on RPO concepts in college.
The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner addressed that concern during a recent appearance on “Football 301 with Nate Tice.”
“The RPO narrative can definitely be seen as a knock,” Mendoza said, as transcribed by Eduardo Razo of Heavy.com. “However, I’ve actually had four different offensive coordinators and four different systems, from pro-style my freshman year to run-and-shoot, to pure Air Raid, and last year, a more multiple-front approach.”
The 22-year-old Mendoza also believes his experience operating in an RPO scheme will benefit him as he tries to learn the nuances of playing under center in the NFL.
“I also think the RPO forces you to make split-second decisions, reading defenders and how they move, and reacting in real time,” added Mendoza.
Assuming that Las Vegas does pick Mendoza, new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak will have a big responsibility in developing Mendoza. It may not happen right away, but Mendoza, given his skill set and intelligence, does project to be someone who can excel under Kubiak, who just helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl last season.
