Mendoza is the overwhelming favorite to be the first player chosen when the Las Vegas Raiders kick off the NFL draft with the first selection on April 23. New Raiders coach Klint Kubiak spoke highly of Mendoza during the NFL's annual league meetings. "He's a national champion, he's a winner, he's tall, intelligent," Kubiak said.

Fernando Mendoza explains why he won't attend the NFL Draft.

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Former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza separated himself from his peers during the 2025-26 NCAA season. He won the Heisman Trophy, led the Hoosiers to a national championship, and proved to the football community that he's arguably the best player in this year's draft class (certainly among quarterbacks).

The 2026 NFL draft is just over two weeks away, and while we think we know how the first overall selection will go, things are a little more mysterious after that.

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft when the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock on April 23. That should mean we will see Mendoza take his walk to the draft stage and get an embrace from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

According to multiple reporters, Mendoza is opting to skip attending the 2026 NFL Draft, which will be held in Pittsburgh, and opting to spend draft night in Miami with family and friends. As first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indiana quarterback “wants to share the draft experience with his family in Miami.”

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The Miami Dolphins have invested in their secondary this offseason, but they could take a versatile defensive back in the 2026 NFl draft.