The Las Vegas Raiders, by everyone's prediction, are going to take Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and the national championship with the Indiana Hoosiers. There's been no question from any draft projectors for a while that there was only one way the Raiders were going to go with this choice.
But in the lead up to the draft, something interesting has happened. Ty Simpson, the QB from Alabama, has gained steam.
No, Simpson is not going to all of a sudden become the Raiders' pick. Vegas seems all-in on Mendoza.
But there are analysts who are starting to wonder whether Simpson is actually better than Mendoza.
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On Monday morning's edition of ESPN's Get Up, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky said, "I think Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this class."
His ESPN colleague and former NFL executive Mike Tannebaum interacted with that video on X and wrote, "In talking to clubs, this opinion is shared by other teams as well."
In talking to clubs this opinion is shared by other teams as well https://t.co/kYLHgLHedy
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) March 23, 2026
That's not something Raiders fans want to hear. Picking a QB at No. 1 overall is a crucial moment for a franchise. They've got to get it right.
All indications are that they'll pick Mendoza. But will that age as the best pick? Some are starting to wonder.
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