The Las Vegas Raiders made a no-brainer decision by drafting former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft last week.
Mendoza, who spent the first two years of his collegiate career with the California Golden Bears, transferred to Indiana before the 2025 season. During his one year with the Hoosiers, Mendoza completed 72.0% of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, which led the nation, with just six interceptions.
This incredible season ended in a College Football Playoff National Championship win, along with being a consensus All-America selection and a host of national awards, including the Heisman Trophy.
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After his phenomenal year under head coach Curt Cignetti at Indiana, Mendoza became the clear choice for the top overall pick in this year's draft. After being picked by Las Vegas, Mendoza now joins newly signed veteran Kirk Cousins in the quarterback room with the Raiders.
Before Mendoza begins his rookie year and preseason with the Raiders, he did something that he's never done before.
On Wednesday, Topps, the premier trading card brand in sports, shared pictures on social media of Mendoza signing his first NFL autograph card.
"Fernando Mendoza just signed his FIRST NFL autograph card… 🔥," the caption read.
Mendoza decided not to attend the draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, last week, where the players who did attend signed their first trading cards on stage after shaking hands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Because of this, Mendoza's signing came later, but he has now done it for the first time.
Mendoza will look forward to beginning rookie training camp, which will begin in early May, ahead of the 2026 NFL season, which starts in September.
