Coming off a Heisman-winning, championship season, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has become the overwhelming favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Already sitting atop most draft boards, Mendoza has chosen to pass on the opportunity to improve his stock. According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Mendoza doesn’t intend to throw at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. 
Mendoza is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he led the NCAA with 41 touchdown passes. Accompanying those scores was a 72.0 completion percentage, 3,535 passing yards, and only six interceptions. In two blowout College Football Playoff games leading to a berth in the National Championship, Mendoza dominated Alabama and Oregon, throwing eight touchdowns to only five incompletions — not interceptions, incompletions.
Coming off some of his best play on college football’s biggest stages, Mendoza sees no need to go for a big day in Indianapolis in front of coaches, scouts, and general managers. “The combine, I don’t think throwing’s going to be a priority just because it’s such a quick turnaround,” Mendoza said on a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
Mendoza had previously mentioned attending the combine, so it looks like he’ll at least be in Indianapolis to interview with any teams who think he stands a chance at falling past the first pick of the draft. While drills at the combine appear to be off the table, Mendoza told McAfee and company that he intended to help his wide receiver teammates as best he could at the Hoosiers’ pro day.
“At the combine, you’re throwing to different receivers, it’s a whole different thing,” he said. “And I want to make sure I give my guys the best chance. I want to throw at pro day with my guys, with my running backs and be there with the boys.”
Mendoza is likely referring to his top targets this year, wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt, who are both projected to be Day 2 picks in April. While scouts likely would’ve appreciated seeing him throw with players he hasn’t spent the whole season with, his stock at the moment doesn’t seem to have anywhere to go but down. He’ll help his receivers look good to help them potentially improve their draft stock, but participating in the combine won’t do much to help his already sky-high stock.
Is this article for the 1% that thought he would throw?
He’d be an idiot to even show up for the combine. He’s already the predicted #1 pick. All he could do there is make himself look bad.
Pretty sure he should show up as it gives him extra time to meet staff. Those private meetings he can look at playbook.
Well yeah, He should show and meet people. I meant show up on the field per se’. Never know what the Raiders will do. They could still totally F up.
That would be the dumbest decision he would make to not attend the combine because that would definitely hurt his draft stock that shows the NFL and teams that he has zero interest in trying to build relationships with a potential suitor
So it’s a great thing that you’re not his agent because you’d be sitting there wondering why the potential #1 would be having a free fall in the draft
Mendoza has chosen to pass on the opportunity to improve his stock.
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How does one improve from being the #1/1? As a Raider fan, I am glad he isn’t throwing. There is still a chance we trade for a king’s ransom. Throwing could only undermine that.
The press told you he was a number one pick
I smell a bust for the Raider’s… don’t wish ill on him but I’d trade back
Whh dudes a dork, but if he is a “Bust” that is more on the organization. We should know by now not to call a player a bust until they have flamed out with multiple teams. Mendoza wouldn’t be a mental bust like Russell or Leaf that just gives up on self.
He strikes me as a high floor kind of QB. I doubt he busts.
Has he ever played under center. have you ever seen him complete a pass that wasn’t to the sidelines
These days nearly all top QB’s in college play in shotgun almost exclusively.
So, when are the Jets going to offer a king’s ransom for Mendoza? You know it’s going to happen. That pick and trading Maxx Crosby to the Bengals will help the Raider Nation get well real quick. The Raiders get 20 draft picks this year and next and the Jets get another QB to suck the life out of.
It won’t happen, but it’s such an intriguing possibility for such a king’s ransom that you can’t help but wonder. Of course Vegas has planned out the scenarios with different potential buyers (even with the understanding that they won’t actually do it), so they should be ready for almost any potential offer. At least, you’d hope. What else do they have to do, anyway, when it comes to that pick? There’s really no speculation about the player to pick if they do what we all expect. Might as well storyboard a few alternatives.
They’re not they’re better quarterbacks the next year‘s draft
I watched Sarratt against Miami and didn’t like what I saw. He couldn’t handle the physicality of the Canes CBs. Cooper had trouble getting open. Hoosiers 3rd WR was impressive. Forgot his name Becker??? Reminded me of Wes Welker. Made a couple of game saving catches.
Becker was the third pick in the Canadian football league draft he already signed a contract
The smart college players recognize the combine for the money grabbing sham that it is.
Imagine knowing you’re going to be drafted by a clueless organization like the Raiders. Refuse to sign and pull an Elway.