Projected top pick Fernando Mendoza makes big NFL Draft decision: report

Fernando Mendoza has reportedly made a large determination astir nan NFL Draft: he will not beryllium attending it.

Mendoza, 22, would alternatively stock his draught acquisition pinch his family successful Miami than be nan draught successful Pittsburgh, according to ESPN. The past clip nan apical projected backmost did not be nan NFL Draft was successful 2021 erstwhile Trevor Lawrence was selected by nan Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, has lived pinch aggregate sclerosis for complete 15 years and is presently utilizing a wheelchair, which could beryllium a logic for Mendoza’s reported determination to enactment home.

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Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza looks to propulsion a walk during nan school's NFL pro time successful Bloomington, Indiana, connected April 1, 2026. (AJ Mast/AP Photo)

The Heisman Trophy-winning backmost met pinch nan Las Vegas Raiders connected Tuesday, who ain nan apical prime successful this year’s NFL Draft. Mendoza has been projected to beryllium nan apical action successful this year’s draught arsenic nan play played out, starring for an undefeated Indiana squad that went connected to triumph nan nationalist championship.

In 16 games past season, Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards pinch 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mendoza’s 41 touchdowns led each Division I quarterbacks.

While nan Raiders are wide expected to return Mendoza, location is nary guarantee he will commencement successful Week 1.

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Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza (15) reacts pinch nan trophy aft nan College Football Playoff National Championship crippled astatine Hard Rock Stadium connected Jan. 19, 2026 successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)

However, Raiders number owner Tom Brady and wide head John Spytek person said galore times that they judge successful not playing a young backmost correct away, making it nary judge point that Mendoza would commencement Week 1.

The Raiders officially signed Kirk Cousins connected Monday, providing them pinch a seasoned backmost who tin commencement while Mendoza develops.

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Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza (15) warms up earlier nan Indiana Hoosiers versus nan Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by AT&T connected Jan. 19, 2026, astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cousins besides has familiarity pinch caller Raiders caput coach Klint Kubiak. During Cousins’ clip pinch the Minnesota Vikings, Kubiak was his quarterbacks coach for 2 seasons and his violative coordinator for another.

If nan Raiders do so prime Mendoza, they dream he tin beryllium nan look of their franchise, sloppy of erstwhile they yet commencement him.

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