NFL

Raiders under Fernando Mendoza’s watch: owner spotted on the sidelines

By JamesMcGheeJanuary 20, 2026No Comments6 Mins Read

All eyes were on Fernando Mendoza Monday as he warmed up on the field and prepared to lead the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoffs national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. But there was one group in the building whose interest in watching Mendoza was a little higher than most.

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and general manager John Spytek were spotted on the side by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, presumably to gain additional in-game insight from the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft (as predicted in USA TODAY’s latest mock draft). THE Raiderswho finished the season with the worst record in the league at 4-13, holds this pick.

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To remove any ambiguity that might have remained as to why they were there, minority owner Tom Brady was later seen alongside Davis and Spytek wearing a silver hoodie with “Raiders” printed in bold letters across his chest.

As explained in the latest simulated version of USA TODAYMendoza has virtually no competition for the top spot in the draft, even less now that Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has decided to stay in school for another year. The Raiders have been in dire need of a signal-caller since parting ways with Derek Carr at the end of the 2022 season, so it seems almost inevitable that Mendoza will get a call from the Las Vegas brass this spring.

1. New York Jets – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2. New York Jets – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State

3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, DE/OLB, Texas Tech

4. Tennessee Titans – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

5. New York Giants – Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

6. Cleveland Browns – Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Florida)

7. Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami, Florida

8. New Orleans Saints – Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame

9. Kansas City Chiefs – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, South, Ohio State

11. Miami Dolphins – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

12. Dallas Cowboys – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

14. Baltimore Ravens – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M

16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

17. Detroit Lions – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

18. Minnesota Vikings – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

19. Carolina Panthers – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Makai Lemon, WR, USC

22. Los Angeles Chargers – Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State

23. Philadelphia Eagles – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

25. Chicago Bears – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

26. Buffalo Bills – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

27. San Francisco 49ers – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

28. Houston Texans – Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon

29. Los Angeles Rams – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

30. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE, Missouri

31. Denver Broncos – CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

All the latest NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Discover the latest edition: The best and worst of the divisional playoffs.

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This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Raiders in Miami to watch Fernando Mendoza in national championship

JamesMcGhee

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