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There is no doubt that the Las Vegas Raiders were the worst franchise last season, and although it may sound strange, that comes with a major benefit: they hold the first overall pick in the upcoming Draft, giving them the chance to select the best available talent. If they don't do something reckless, all signs point to Fernando Mendoza, who against all expectations is considered the top quarterback in this draft class.
When last NCAA season began, all eyes were on quarterbacks like Arch Manning, Drew Allar, and Cade Klubnik. Fernando Mendoza's name was barely mentioned, and neither were the Indiana Hoosiers. In the end, the season delivered a massive surprise: Indiana won the national championship, with Mendoza leading the team and winning the Heisman Trophy.
Despite that, Fernando Mendoza has been heavily questioned, mainly because of his numbers. In the regular season, he finished with 2,980 passing yards, 33 touchdown passes, and 6 interceptions. For comparison, Cam Ward, who became the No. 1 overall pick after his final season with the University of Miami in 2024, threw for 4,313 yards. That gap is why Mendoza has faced criticism, even though it is highly unlikely to prevent him from being the No. 1 pick in the 2026 Draft.
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Maxx Crosby is unhappy with the Raiders
Unless something unexpected happens, the Raiders will select Fernando Mendoza in the upcoming Draft, and the organization did everything possible to secure the first overall pick. That decision caused frustration for the team's most talented player, defensive star Maxx Crosby, who strongly disagreed with being placed on injured reserve (IR) two weeks before the end of the season.
The Raiders needed to lose their game against the New York Giants in the penultimate week, and the team decided to place Crosby on IR due to a knee injury he had been dealing with since October. Crosby opposed that decision, as he wanted to keep playing through the end of the season, even though the team was already out of playoff contention.
As a result, there is now uncertainty about whether Crosby wants to continue playing for the Raiders. NFL insider Dianna Russini revealed that Crosby wants to play for the New England Patriots, stating on the Zolak and Bertrand Show: "He's [Crosby] told me."
So while fans may be excited about the potential arrival of Fernando Mendoza as the Raiders' new quarterback, losing Maxx Crosby would be a devastating blow to the fanbase. There is no doubt he is the fans' favorite player and, without question, the best player on the team.