Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Raiders Draft Heisman Star Mendoza #1, Sign Cousins Mentor

4/24/2026

27 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Raiders Draft Mendoza

The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.
Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman winner, stayed in Miami for the draft to keep his mother Elsa, who has multiple sclerosis, close.
Raiders co-owner Tom Brady posted a welcome message to Mendoza on social media after the selection.
Las Vegas signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a $20 million guaranteed contract to mentor Mendoza.

Summary

Raiders Draft Heismans

The Raiders have drafted five Heisman Trophy winners, including Charles Woodson (1998) and Tim Brown (1988).
Detroit (10), Los Angeles Rams (8), Washington (6) and Tennessee (6) have selected more Heisman winners than the Raiders.
Mendoza became the 26th Heisman winner taken first overall and the sixth of the last nine first-overall picks.
The first-round clock was cut to eight minutes per pick, ending the round in under 3½ hours.

History

Historical Context

In the 1969 NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills used the first-overall pick—acquired in a trade that brought O.J. Simpson to the team—to select the Heisman Trophy-winning running back, who signed a four-year, $215,000 contract. That draft capped the AFL’s final season before the 1970 merger, a year in which the Bills played a league-record seven games against opponents that later reached the postseason.

1 of 3

Raiders Draft Mendoza

The Las Vegas Raiders selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026.
Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman winner, stayed in Miami for the draft to keep his mother Elsa, who has multiple sclerosis, close.
Raiders co-owner Tom Brady posted a welcome message to Mendoza on social media after the selection.
Las Vegas signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a $20 million guaranteed contract to mentor Mendoza.

1 / 3