AP Mock Draft 1.0: Edge rushers go 2-3-4 after Raiders take QB Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall

Fernando Mendoza, fresh off a Heisman Trophy and the first national championship in Indiana history, is projected to hear his name called first overall when the Las Vegas Raiders step to the podium next month. According to the Associated Press’s inaugural mock draft, the Raiders will open the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting the championship-winning quarterback, setting off a run on pass rushers with edge defenders coming off the board at picks two, three, and four. Beyond the top selection, the rest of the league’s draft board remains fluid, but the early emphasis on elite quarterback talent and premium edge defenders is already taking shape.