Bleu Derry asks:

"Aside from Mendoza, who else did the Raiders meet with at Combine?"

While this isn't a full list of all of the formal interviews conducted, the following players confirmed in their podium interviews that they met with the Raiders at the NFL Combine:

• Max Bredeson, RB, Michigan
• Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
• KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
• Riley Nowakowksi, TE, Indiana
• D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
• Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina

Receiver Zachariah Branch is one of the more high-profile prospects the Raiders met with, not to mention his ties to the city of Las Vegas and Hall of Famer Cliff Branch. KC Concepcion should also be considered another prime prospect for the Silver and Black/ The consensus All-American caught nine touchdowns his junior season with the Aggies.

Dov Berns from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia asks:

"Given the relatively poor success records of Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks to date, don't you think it would be wise to trade back for some draft capital and build the offensive line? I know people say Mendoza is a generational talent, but we seem to have a new one every year and records show the Heisman is kryptonite."

It seems we'll have to do a little bit of myth busting to properly answer this question.

Over the last 20 Heisman Trophy winners, dating back to 2006, 16 were quarterbacks – including Fernando Mendoza. Of those 16 quarterbacks, seven have at least one Pro Bowl appearance. Additionally, seven of those quarterbacks have won at least one playoff game as a starter including Joe Burrow who started in Super Bowl LVI for the Cincinnati Bengals. Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman winner, led the Washington Commanders to their first NFC Championship game appearance in over 30 years his rookie season.

And of those Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, two have won NFL MVP – 2011 No. 1 pick Cam Newton (2015) and Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson (2019, 2023).

So to say there's a relatively poor success rate with Heisman Trophy quarterbacks isn't necessarily true. Based off the numbers, Mendoza has a fairly decent chance of living up to the lofty expectations.

It's also worth mentioning that the last quarterback to win a Super Bowl for the Raiders was 1970 Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett.

Cody Denton from Kansas asks:

"Do you think there's any chance the staff takes two QBs in the draft? The consensus is that Mendoza is taken with the first overall pick, however do you think they may be inclined to take a QB late if the value is there and develop them as well?"

Since 1994, 10 teams have drafted multiple quarterbacks in the same class. Technically speaking, the Raiders are one of those teams as they used two sixth-round picks on FCS quarterbacks Cam Miller and Tommy Mellott, with the latter immediately moving to wide receiver after being selected.

Let's examine the 2012 Draft for a prime example of this logic paying off. The Washington Commanders selected Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick. They selected Kirk Cousins in the fourth round (102nd overall). He ultimately became a suitable starter for Washington in aid of Griffin's injuries.

And as recent as 2024, the New England Patriots took Drake Maye at No. 3 and Joe Milton III in the sixth round. Milton showcased enough promise in preseason action and one career start with the Patriots for the Dallas Cowboys to trade a 2025 fifth-round pick for him.

While Fernando Mendoza is widely considered the top quarterback prospect in this class by a mile, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a weak quarterback class. Miami's Carson Beck, whose team Mendoza defeated in the CFB National Championship game, went 49-6 in his collegiate career with 88 passing touchdowns. SEC quarterbacks Garrett Nussmeier and Taylen Green also raised their draft stock last week with impressive showings at the NFL Combine.

These quarterbacks would be considerable options on Day 3 for the Raiders, even if Mendoza is selected No. 1 overall.