US EditionAP Mock Draft 1.0: Edge Rushers Go 2-3-4 After Raiders Take QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 Overall
Mendoza, a Heisman winner, is projected as the Raiders’ first pick to end their playoff drought, with edge rushers filling key needs for teams, AP's 2026 mock draft shows.
- Next month, the AP projects Fernando Mendoza, Heisman Trophy winner and Indiana quarterback, as the Las Vegas Raiders' No. 1 pick after leading Indiana to its first national championship.
- Facing a long playoff drought, the Raiders need Mendoza as a franchise quarterback and must build a roster to protect him while new head coach Robert Saleh arrives.
- Several edge rushers rose up boards after the combine, including Reese, edge prospect with a 4.47 40-yard dash, Bain, versatile rusher, and Bailey, projected early pick by the Jets.
- The Kansas City Chiefs aim to bolster protection for Patrick Mahomes, with Miller, who started 54 college games, viewed as a plug-in option, while the Cleveland Browns seek offensive line upgrades with Proctor, a three-year starter who allowed just two sacks.
- Combine results altered rankings as Thieneman ran a 4.36 40-yard dash and Styles jumped into top-five talks, while Mesidor’s age 25 and Banks’ limited play last year complicate evaluations.
25 Articles
25 Articles
New QB Revelation Suggests Fernando Mendoza Is on Same Tier as LSU Joe Burrow
The NFL Combine showcased the best of college football, but the undisputed No. 1 pick in the draft skipped the drills. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza saw a rise in his stock after the Hoosiers’ national championship win. However, there have been a few naysayers as well. But if you line up his stats against former Heisman winners, Mendoza is in elite company. In a post on X, business major student Adam Carter shared statistical data comparing Mendoza…
AP Mock Draft 1.0: Edge rushers go 2-3-4 after Raiders take QB Fernand
Fernando Mendoza won a Heisman Trophy, led Indiana to its first national championship and will be the No. 1 overall pick when the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock next month. The rest of the NFL draft isn’t that clear-cut. It’s not even a certainty another quarterback will be selected in the first round after Mendoza, though Ty Simpson made a strong case at the scouting combine. Here’s the first edition of the AP’s 2026 mock draft in order of …
Associated Press News
AP Mock Draft 1.0: Edge rushers go 2-3-4 after Raiders take QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall
Fernando Mendoza won a Heisman Trophy, led Indiana to its first national championship and will be the No. 1 overall pick when the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock next month.
Fernando Mendoza Hit With Major Criticism – First Overall Pick In Question
Fernando Mendoza. Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images The 2026 NFL draft has a clear favorite to hear his name called before anybody else next month. After a terrific 2025 season with the Indiana Hoosiers, Fernando Mendoza is considered the top player in the draft. The Los Angeles Raiders, who own the No. 1 selection, have done all the research on Mendoza. As great as he was in college, leading the Hoosiers to a 16-0 season and the national cha…
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