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Why Fernando Mendoza isn’t attending 2026 NFL Draft for expected No. 1 Raiders selection
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- Why Fernando Mendoza isn’t attending 2026 NFL Draft for expected No. 1 Raiders selection
Why Fernando Mendoza isn't attending 2026 NFL Draft for expected No. 1 Raiders selection appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Las Vegas Raiders are counting down the days until the NFL Draft, with just over two weeks remaining until they will be on the clock with the number one overall pick. The Raiders are widely expected to take quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza , who just won a national championship with Indiana and established himself as the top quarterback prospect in this class.
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On Tuesday afternoon, the Raiders got an unexpected update on Mendoza's draft day plans as the big day approaches.
"Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he is not planning to attend the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh this month, per sources. Mendoza wants to share the draft experience with his family in Miami ," reported NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter.
Schefter also noted that "The last time a No. 1 overall pick QB did not attend the NFL Draft was in 2021, when the Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence."
This means that the traditional walking across the stage, putting on the hat, and shaking commissioner Roger Goodell's hand will be bypassed for Mendoza, which might take a little bit of the excitement out of the moment for Raiders fans hoping to turn their profile pictures into images of Mendoza wearing a Las Vegas cap.
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However, the Raiders, of course, will still likely be selecting the star at number one, and bringing him in to join a quarterback room that also features Kirk Cousins , the veteran who was signed by Las Vegas in free agency last week.
At this point, it's unclear if the Raiders plan to start Cousins or Mendoza in week one, but the plan is clearly for Mendoza to take the reins at some point down the line and attempt to lead the Raiders into their first era of prosperity since their relocation to Las Vegas.
Related: Raiders 2026 NFL Draft guide: Number of picks, biggest needs, draft history, and more
Related: Kirk Cousins got great contract from Raiders, but he was also enticed by something else
