INDIANAPOLIS — The debate over whether Fernando Mendoza deserves to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders intensified Friday at the NFL combine, with ESPN analysts sharply divided on the Indiana quarterback’s talent.
Mendoza, 22, led the Hoosiers to a national championship last season and is widely projected to go first overall on April 23. He is not throwing at the combine, opting to showcase his skills at his pro day to benefit his teammates. Instead, he spent the week meeting with teams and speaking to media.
“I’m unemployed,” Mendoza joked Friday. “This is the most important job interview of my life.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Mendoza’s Wednesday meeting with the Raiders ran long because the team enjoyed him so much and had no other meetings scheduled. Schefter said Mendoza is almost guaranteed to be the pick, with Alabama’s Ty Simpson expected to be the second quarterback selected.
But not everyone is sold. Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky reviewed half of Mendoza’s season tape and was unimpressed.
“Through eight games, you see good, but there’s a lot underwhelming,” Orlovsky said on “First Take” Thursday. “There’s not a ton of big-time throws. There’s a lot of clean pockets. There’s a ton of RPOs and back-shoulder fades. There’s moments where you see he’s spooked with his feet and becomes a runner unnecessarily. I think through eight games, Ty Simpson’s tape at Alabama is significantly more impressive than Fernando Mendoza’s.”
Pat McAfee countered with a passionate endorsement Friday, calling Mendoza “generational.”
“Six-foot-five, has beers with the boys, super smart, wildly intelligent, accurate, and he’s tough,” McAfee said. “I think the people that are on TV talking about him maybe not being the guy … just because they were late to the party with Mendoza, and they don’t want to state that.”
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah used a driving analogy to describe Mendoza’s progression: “When we were all learning how to drive, they don’t just throw you on the freeway. For the first part of the season, Indiana was like, ‘We’re just gonna drive around the parking lot at school, then we’ll go out in the neighborhoods.’ Then came the big dogs on the schedule, and they tasked Mendoza to open this thing up make big throws. And he did that.”
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who worked with Mendoza at the Manning Passing Academy, praised his intelligence and toughness.
“I remember spending time with him. And just loved his energy. But really, how smart he is,” Patricia said. “He’s (also) tall and can stand in the pocket. A lot of guys can’t see over the offensive linemen.”
ESPN’s Mel Kiper noted Mendoza’s improvement from 41 sacks at Cal in 2024 to 17 or 18 in the regular season at Indiana. “What he need to improve on, he did,” Kiper said. “Realistically, in this draft, Fernando Mendoza, I think, is the best player. And certainly he’s distanced himself from every other quarterback, including Ty Simpson.”
ESPN’s Peter Schrager highlighted Mendoza’s star quality, recounting a standing ovation he received at St. Elmo Steak House. “Twelve months ago, I don’t know if we would’ve even thought that Fernando Mendoza would be at the combine, let alone being the No. 1 pick in the draft,” Schrager said.
