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What To Expect In Year 1 With Fernando Mendoza

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 28: Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers looks on during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Expectations are high for the las Vegas Raiders as they are likely to take Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall draft pick next month.

The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback ahs a chance to kick start a much-needed revival in Las Vegas. However, if history is any indication, fans may temper their immediate expectations and hope.

A recent post on X by the Associated Press, looked at the records of the 19 teams this century the season after they drafted a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick. Only one team, the 2012 Indianapolis Colts with quarterback Andrew Luck, had a winning record. Only one team finished .500 (the 2003 Cincinnati Bengals with Carson Palmer).

Here’s the full list:

Here's how teams have done the year they had rookie QB picked No. 1 overall since 2000:
2025 Titans 3-14
2024 Bears 5-12
2023 Panthers 2-15
2021 Jaguars 3-14
2020 Bengals 4-11-1
2019 Cardinals 5-10-1
2018 Browns 7-8-1
2016 Rams 4-12
2015 Bucs 6-10
2012 Colts 11-5
2011 Panthers… https://t.co/gFXUfNeoBL
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) March 12, 2026

Thus, 17 of the 19 teams had losing records with 11 of those teams winning five or less games.

So, while the Raiders should be on the right track or the long haul, history shows it may not translate to instant success.

In other Raiders’ news:

FEED talk: Check out this FEED post and join the party.
Not much spending: Other than the Raiders, the other AFC West teams haven’t done much.
Post free agency power rankings: See where NFL.com has the Raiders’ ranked after their free-agency frenzy.

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What To Expect In Year 1 With Fernando Mendoza

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