Raiders fans will love this Fernando Mendoza comparison to superstar QB

Las Vegas is getting a special player with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:24pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a quarterback's throwing motion, with sharp planes of silver, navy, and crimson red overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract representation of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a quarterback's throwing motion captures the dynamic energy and precision of a potential future NFL star.Philadelphia Today

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza, who just won a Heisman Trophy and a national title, has been compared to Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow due to his outstanding pocket poise, touch, and ability to make big plays in big moments.

Why it matters

The Raiders have been searching for a franchise quarterback for years, and Mendoza's potential to be a Burrow-like superstar could be exactly what the team needs to take the next step and become a contender in the AFC.

The details

Mendoza transferred to Indiana from Cal and developed into a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and potential No. 1 pick. He has outstanding pocket poise with expert-level touch to all areas of the field, and while his arm strength may not be elite, he protects the ball well and is a great distributor, throwing for 41 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions last season.

  • Mendoza just won a Heisman Trophy and a national title for the Hoosiers in the 2025 season.
  • The 2026 NFL Draft is scheduled for later this month.

The players

Fernando Mendoza

A quarterback who just won a Heisman Trophy and a national title for Indiana University, and is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Joe Burrow

A superstar quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals who was also a transfer, going from Ohio State to LSU, and has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL when healthy.

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What they’re saying

“One year after zero quarterbacks had a true first-round grade, there is one in this class. Mendoza transferred to Indiana from Cal and developed into a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and potential No. 1 pick. He has outstanding pocket poise with expert-level touch to all areas of the field. My favorite trait is his ability to put the ball up for his receivers to make plays. And although his arm strength will never be elite, Mendoza protects the ball and is a great distributor. He threw for 41 touchdowns to six interceptions last season and has a game very similar to Burrow thanks to his deadly accuracy, poise in the pocket and penchant for making big plays in big moments.”

— Matt Miller, Draft analyst

What’s next

The Raiders will officially make Mendoza the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft later this month.

The takeaway

Mendoza's potential to be a Burrow-like superstar quarterback could be exactly what the Raiders need to turn their franchise around and become a contender in the AFC. His outstanding pocket presence, accuracy, and ability to make big plays in big moments have drawn comparisons to one of the best young QBs in the NFL.