Overview
- The consensus expectation is that Las Vegas will draft Indiana’s Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza first overall, a view reinforced after Dante Moore chose to stay in school.
- Derek Carr cautioned against inserting a rookie behind a shaky roster and urged the Raiders to spend heavily on offensive line help before making the move.
- Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick proposed reuniting Mendoza with Indiana wideout Elijah Sarratt at pick No. 36 to give the rookie an immediate, trusted target.
- Recent evaluations, including from ESPN’s Josh Pate, highlight Mendoza’s NFL-caliber arm talent and strong playoff surge, with coaches and former NFL voices praising his complete profile.
- Reports describe Las Vegas’ offensive line, receiver depth, and defense as problem areas, while multiple early draft picks offer avenues to upgrade the supporting cast around a new quarterback.