The 2026 NFL Draft is just over a month away, which means we are getting closer to a potentially historic day for the Indiana football program. When the draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, Indiana has a chance to break the program record for most players selected in a single NFL Draft. The current record is seven in 1976, but after sending nine players to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month, the Hoosiers are well-positioned to tie or break that record.
Post-NFL Combine Indiana Mock Draft: Where every Hoosier will end up
Leading the pack of Hoosiers set to shine at the next level is QB Fernando Mendoza. Barring any wild unforeseen circumstances, Mendoza will be drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. Entering a new era with Klint Kubiak at the helm, the Raiders have already had an active offseason to begin the process of building the franchise around Mendoza.
Part of that plan includes possibly bringing in a veteran QB to help mentor the Hoosier gunslinger in his rookie season. But could that mean Mendoza may not start Week 1 when the season rolls around in the fall? Comments from Raiders GM John Spytek may hint at the possibility of Mendoza starting his rookie season on the bench.
Is there a chance Fernando Mendoza starts his NFL career on the bench?
At the NFL Combine last month, Spytek shared his plans for a potential rookie QB like Mendoza. In his comments, he mentioned the possibility of not starting him right from the jump.
"I think you want to limit the amount of pressure on that guy from the start. Now, if you have a young quarterback, I’m not necessarily in favor of running him out there right away, either, so another quality player that can play the position if you have a young quarterback."John Spytek
Spytek's comments came around the time when it was reported that Las Vegas coule be a potential landing spot for veteran QB Kirk Cousins. Cousins was released by the Falcons earlier this offseason, and his 14 years of NFL experience could make for an ideal mentor for a player like Mendoza.
Whether or not the Raiders go after Cousins specifically, it seems that they are certainly exploring the option of adding a veteran to their QB room. In addition to providing mentorship, it also seems that Spytek and company are possible interested in starting a veteran QB in Week 1 and having Mendoza learn from the sidelines before seeing game action himself.
No matter what, Hoosier fans will be rooting for Mendoza regardless of what his Week 1 status is. Before the regular season begins, he figures to see action in the preseason as he prepares for his NFL career.