Projected top pick Fernando Mendoza reveals why he’s skipping NFL Draft

Heisman Trophy victor and projected apical prime Fernando Mendoza revealed why he won’t beryllium attending nan NFL Draft successful Pittsburgh connected Thursday night.

Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, has lived pinch aggregate sclerosis for complete 15 years and is presently utilizing a wheelchair. The 22-year-old said his parents wanted to do nan draught astatine home.

"My mom really wanted to do it astatine home, and truthful did my parents. It’s a batch easier for us, particularly pinch nan family situation. I’m going to person to hop connected a level (in) nan greeting anyways. For that travel, it will beryllium a batch easier to enactment astatine home," Mendoza said Monday during an quality connected "The Rich Eisen Show."

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Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza looks connected during warmups earlier nan College Football Playoff National Championship crippled against nan Miami Hurricanes astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Florida, connected Jan. 19, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

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 said that because he is staying astatine home, he will beryllium capable to person much group who helped him connected his travel stock nan experience.

"I wanted to enactment and make nan representation pinch everybody who poured into my shot journey," Mendoza said. "Mentors, coaches, family, friends, we want to stock that representation pinch each of them is going to beryllium nan champion representation that I could make, alternatively than limit it to 10 aliases 12 group successful Pittsburgh."

While Mendoza will enactment astatine home, he said that location will beryllium cameras astatine location to drawback his guidance for erstwhile nan Las Vegas Raiders apt return him pinch nan apical pick.

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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)

"I still want to beryllium nan champion convention partner I tin go and make judge that location is really ever galore camera arsenic ESPN wants there," Mendoza said. "Whatever they request from me, I will do. However, I deliberation it is very important to commencement disconnected this travel pinch everyone who has sewage maine to this point."

While he won’t beryllium successful Pittsburgh, he did telephone it a awesome venue.

"Pittsburgh is simply a awesome opportunity and awesome venue, and I’m really excited to spot each nan guys locomotion crossed nan shape connected Thursday night," Mendoza said.vMendoza has been projected to beryllium nan No. 1 action this twelvemonth aft starring connected an undefeated Indiana squad that won nan nationalist championship.

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Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during nan first half of nan College Football Playoff nationalist title game, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, successful Miami Gardens, Florida. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

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 Mendoza starred pinch nan Hoosiers, location is nary guarantee he starts Week 1 if he does so get selected by nan Raiders.

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 signed Kirk Cousins a mates of weeks ago, providing them pinch a seasoned backmost who tin commencement while Mendoza develops.

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