How to Unlock #1 NFL Draft Pick Fernando Mendoza in MUT

Table of Contents:

• Crafting Mendoza’s First Official Raiders Player Item
• With the First Pick...
• The Pick Is In - How to Use Sets for Draft Night Champions
• Five Quick Tips for Unlocking Draft Night Players

With the First Pick…

in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders select Fernando Mendoza - Quarterback, Indiana. He is now available as a 99 OVR on Madden. Ultimate Team, alongside dozens of other NFL Draft picks selected throughout the weekend, to be released after each day of the draft.

Following an initial drop on April 21, the NFL Draft Program continues throughout Draft weekend, as the rookies to watch this upcoming season officially enter Madden Ultimate Team as members of their drafted teams.

Here’s everything you need to know about these rookies, including a closer look at Fernando Mendoza’s first official Raiders Ultimate Team player item.

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Crafting Mendoza’s First Official Raiders Player Item

As the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, Fernando Mendoza’s ratings represent his potential not just in the upcoming season, but throughout his career. With maxed out attributes across multiple throwing and physical categories, his Draft Night Player Item can go down-for-down with the more recently-released Improviser Michael Vick Limited player item from the Ring of Honor Program.

In other words, we’re linking his potential to a Madden GOAT; notify your professional network, because Mendoza is about to become your top candidate for MUT QB1.

Originally an 81 OVR Player Item at College Football 26 Ultimate Team Launch, Mendoza led Indiana University to an undefeated season and a National Championship, picking up a Blue Chip Player Item mid-season and a Heisman Trophy along the way. CUT fanatics can tell you how well Mendoza can sling the ball down range and on the run, especially if they used his CFP MVP card.

At 93 OVR, Mendoza’s NFL Combine Player Item previews a translation of his Heisman and MVP winning skills over to Madden: a high speed, high throw power Improviser that throws darts at long distance. This card is still available on the Auction House to pick up if you want to test drive before completing sets.

Whether you are waiting for his 99 OVR Card or trialing his 93 OVR Combine, start digging into your playbook for Option Plays, Play Actions, and Shots down field - this is the gameplan for how to utilize his talents 

But he’s not the only top prospect from this year’s draft…

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The Pick Is In - How to Use Sets for Draft Night Champions

Fernando Mendoza - as well as other Draft Night players - can be yours by completing NFL Draft Night Sets. Specifically, Mendoza and other top draft picks are found in individual 99 OVR Draft Night Champion Sets, which can be unlocked by adding five 96 OVR NFL Draft Players to their specific Set.

Relevant to the above requirements, these are two Sets from earlier in the NFL Draft Program:

For those just getting back into Ultimate Team, the H2H and CPU Events offer a great way to earn high OVR players, as they allow you to draft rosters separate to your personal Ultimate Team.

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Five Quick Tips for Unlocking Draft Night Players

1. SET UP FOR SUCCESS. You will need 96 OVR NFL Draft Players. This can be done by combining 3 93 OVR NFL Draft Players and 2 93-94 OVR Players from any set.

2. BUILD THROUGH THE DRAFT. Unless you run Gauntlets like Colbie Young at the Combine, H2H and CPU Draft Events are great ways to earn high rewards. Not ready to go H2H? There is no shame prioritizing CPU entries for more consistent rewards.

3. CONFIDENCE THROUGH CHALLENGES. Struggling in Events? Use the new Challenges to earn some Coins, BND Players, and Upgrade Tokens for your Welcome Draft Player to create your own 99 OVR Player; more are coming next week!

4. DIG INTO THE INVENTORY. If you played MUT since launch - or even since the Super Bowl - you’re bound to have players in the high-80s / low-90s sitting in your inventory, they can be traded late in the MUT season!

5. UTILIZE THE AUCTION HOUSE. Earlier NFL Draft sets include players from programs in the high 80s / low 90s. Try using Auction House filters to look for lower overall players that may be available at a range of prices.

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