Fans were saying the same thing after the Las Vegas Raiders secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Raiders were locked in to the No. 1 spot after the New York Giants won their Week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 to improve to 4-13 and eliminate the possibility of a tie with the Raiders, who entered their game against the Chiefs with a 2-14 record.
Once the Raiders locked up the pick, fans already started to say that Fernando Mendoza would be the team’s next quarterback.
The Raiders have their Franchise Quarterback ☠️🏴☠️
— ShifftttyyyQB1🏴☠️ (@raiders1022) January 4, 2026
Fernando Mendoza is coming home🤩 pic.twitter.com/GcFsLwE70I
With the #Giants win, the #Raiders officially clinch the No. 1 pick — Fernando Mendoza season. pic.twitter.com/MYxsWmqtKc
— Raider Dhillon (@RaiderAnalysis) January 4, 2026
Mendoza, Bowers, Jeanty
— Las Vegas Raiders 365 (@DailyLVRaiders) January 4, 2026
I can’t even believe it. We deserve it Raider Nation!!!
Mendoza just won the Heisman Trophy and has led Indiana to the College Football Playoff semifinals. There are no guarantees that he will be the No. 1 pick in the draft, but he is believed to be in contention for the pick. Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore and Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson are also regarded as some of the top prospects at the position.
The Raiders have the No. 1 pick for the first time since 2007, when they selected JaMarcus Russell, who turned out to be a bust. It would make sense for them to try to land a franchise quarterback, one whom they hope will play even better than their last franchise QB, Derek Carr.
