The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 overall pick and while there are multiple roster holes, none are more glaring than the one at quarterback.
That is where Indiana enters the frame.
Our latest edition of “Monday Morning Mock Draft” is built around a simple reality: the Hoosiers have become relevant to the top of the board. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the headline, a poised, accurate passer who looks comfortable operating on schedule and attacking outside the numbers. But he is not the only Indiana name worth tracking. In fact, there’ll be plenty of prospects that can play fast, process quickly and translate to pro structure—the kind of traits Indiana’s top players have put on tape.
Besides, if you want to help Mendoza transition at the next level, get him some familiar help. That would be a smart play by Raiders general manager John Spytek. Either way, let’s take a look.
Raiders 3-round mock draft: Following the Indiana blueprint…
Round 1: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
Fernando Mendoza is not the kind of quarterback who walks into the draft like a meteor, turning every scouting room into a crater. He is closer to a compass: not flashy, not mystical, but steady enough to keep an organization from wandering in circles. Some fans will call him a “game manager,” which, to be fair, wouldn’t exactly hurt the Raiders in their current state.
In a draft without much blue-chip certainty, that matters. Mendoza’s jump at Indiana after transferring from Cal didn’t feel like a short heater. It looked repeatable: quick decisions, accurate placement, and a clear priority on protecting the ball. Scouts will value the maturity and the steady pace to his game, along with his ability to roll left or right off play action and still deliver on the move. He identifies throwing lanes early and lets it go with conviction.
And yes, the flaws have teeth. The arm is solid, not scary. Cross-field throws can arrive tired. Deep balls can float. He will also cling to a play too long, taking sacks when a punt is the smarter outcome. His feet can get frantic when the first read dies, and his frame needs more functional mass for Sundays.
But quarterbacks are not drafted only for what they are. Sometimes they are drafted for what they stabilize.
Round 2: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Elijah Sarratt is not a receiver who wins with sudden, overwhelming traits. He wins with timing and detail. He identifies leverage, forces defensive backs to commit, and creates separation with controlled route breaks. Let’s face it, his chemistry with Mendoza would easily translate to the Raiders.
That is why Spytek should be interested, even if the stopwatch crowd stays unimpressed. Sarratt wins with control and craft. At the top of routes, he stays balanced and sells vertical just long enough to make a corner open his hips. Then he cuts across the field—slants, digs, overs, shallow crossers—and stacks defenders inside leverage until they are chasing from the trail. He can handle contact, too, using his hands to keep corners from latching on and ruining timing.
He also has a knack for the inconvenient moment. At Iowa and at Oregon, he caught game-winning touchdowns on the road. That is not a trait you can measure, but it is one you feel when the stadium gets quiet.
On the other hand, he may not have true vertical juice. He may not win many high-point fights against long, springy corners. His role could end up as a power slot if he does not test well.
Still, every offense needs a receiver who can turn third-and-7 into a routine conversation. Sarratt can do that.
Round 3: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
Chandler Rivers processes fast, triggers decisively, and gets to the catch point on time—exactly what the Raiders need at corner.
At Duke, he showed a natural feel for where the ball is headed, and that instinct shows up in the little moments that change games: closing windows, driving on quick throws, and turning routine completions into incompletions. His hips and ankles are loose enough to carry routes vertically, then sink and redirect without panicking. For a defender with a smaller frame, he also tackles with real intent. He does not make “business decisions” in space.
That is the appeal for the Raiders: a defensive back who sees the picture quickly and competes like it matters.
Conversely, the concerns are legitimate. At around 180 pounds, durability and weekly matchups with big outside receivers will be questioned. Stronger blockers can erase him in the run game, and his lack of length can limit his press at the line. He also takes chances—eyes in the backfield, bites on a move, and gives up separation. In the NFL, those mistakes turn into points.
Still, corners are not drafted only for size. They are drafted for conviction and processing. Rivers has both. The question is whether the Raiders can refine the risk without dulling the edge.
*Top Photo: Getty Images