Fernando Mendoza has won the highest honors in college football, and now it's time for his next adventure. The Las Vegas Raiders have drafted Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft.

During a special live Round 1 edition of their Nightcap YouTube show, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson reacted to the Raiders’ pick, with Sharpe talking about how the Raiders have found the QB they were looking for, but he also sent out a subtle warning as well.

"You got Patrick Mahomes. You got a Bo Nix, and you got Justin Herbert. You've got to be able to compete with those guys," Sharpe said. "You've got to your quarterback has to be able to stand across the field and go toe-to-toe with Mahomes, toe-to-toe with Nix, toe-to-toe with Justin Herbert. "

The ex-Broncos star has warned the first-round pick about the QBs he is going to face in the AFC West. Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl Winner and is a quarterback who is considered among the GOATs. Bo Nix took the Denver Broncos to the playoffs.

He threw for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 games. Herbert also had a fairly good season, with a passer rating of 94.1 with 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 16 games. Mendoza now faces a specific challenge regarding his role on the depth chart.

Sharpe remains skeptical about how the rookie will adapt to the professional level. "They believe they found their guy, Ocho. Only time will tell, but like you said, they need some more pieces. But this is great. This is a great first start," he said. But what does Mendoza think of himself?

Fernando Mendoza Wants To Be One Of The 32

The Raiders QB said that people still see him as underrated. He talked about being ranked the No. 288 player in the state of Florida as a high school senior in the class of 2022 and said that he does not see himself as a ranking but himself.

“Although the draft was today, once I got drafted, I’m now part of the NFL, and I can tell you right now I am not one out of 32 — although I was picked today one out of 32 — I’m not one out of 32 quarterbacks at this moment,” Mendoza said.

The Las Vegas Raiders signed four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins to a five-year, $172 million deal in April 2026. With Cousins already on the roster, the Raiders' QB depth chart heading into 2026 will be one to watch

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Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Rudra Dubey