Raiders Take Josh Allen at No. 1 in 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Q: This mock draft gave Josh Allen to the Raiders. Why did the team actually select a rookie quarterback first overall?

The Raiders took Fernando Mendoza No. 1 because the Josh Allen pick existed only in a hypothetical “all players available” mock draft, not in the real 2026 NFL Draft. Allen is an established Bills quarterback, not a draft-eligible rookie. In the actual draft, Las Vegas used the top pick on Mendoza because it viewed him as a franchise-quarterback answer and a strong fit for new coach Klint Kubiak’s offense. Mendoza came off a decorated 2025 season at Indiana, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated national championship run. Reports cited his accuracy, decision-making, mobility, size and poise under pressure as traits that made him the clear top quarterback in the class. The Raiders also saw Mendoza as a long-term solution for a team that has struggled for years to stabilize the position and has gone decades without sustained playoff success. Team evaluators and coaches praised his work ethic, football intelligence and leadership, describing him as mature, detail-oriented and highly competitive. Las Vegas’ plan also reflects that long view. The club signed veteran Kirk Cousins to start and mentor Mendoza, allowing the rookie to develop before taking over. So while the mock draft imagined a win-now scenario with a proven MVP in Allen, the Raiders’ real-world decision was about securing a young quarterback they believe can lead the franchise for years.

3 articles · Updated · NFL.com · Jun 30

Josh Allen goes first overall to the Raiders in a seven-round 2026 NFL mock draft built around one-year, win-now rosters rather than real-world transactions.
Mike LaFleur’s familiarity with the 2024 NFL MVP from three years with the Rams helps drive the pick, with Las Vegas betting Allen can end a title drought of more than 40 years.
Quarterbacks dominate the top of the board after Allen, with Joe Burrow to the Titans at No. 2, Lamar Jackson to the Giants at No. 3 and Drake Maye to the Browns at No. 4.
The exercise uses the 2026 first-round order, restores traded or forfeited picks to original teams, snakes later rounds and excludes trades, compensatory picks and unsigned free agents.
The mock keeps more stars with current teams than in past editions, reflecting the idea that franchises may value continuity as training camps approach.