BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Las Vegas Raiders sent a 10-person delegation to Indiana University on Wednesday, led by general manager John Spytek, coach Klint Kubiak, and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, to watch Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza work out at his pro day. Mendoza, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, completed 53 of 56 passes during a 20-minute session at Mellencamp Pavilion, with only two incompletions and one slightly overthrown deep ball.
Mendoza, who led the Hoosiers to a 16-0 national championship season, threw to 22 former teammates and showed he can take snaps under center and drop back, addressing a question some NFL teams have had about his game. “I think it’s just reps like anything,” he said. “I don’t think I necessarily struggle with it. I’ve played in a Wing-T offense before.”
The Raiders contingent planned to have dinner with Mendoza in Bloomington after the workout. Mendoza said he prepared with his receivers over the weekend, practicing routes to ensure a smooth performance. “Today was cool, and there were some nerves right before, but those nerves mean I’m ready,” he said. “For me, it wasn’t very high stakes. It was just having fun with the guys.”
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti appeared on NFL Network and praised Mendoza’s preparation. “He wanted to be a great player. Tom Brady was his idol, and he did everything within the realm of possibility to be the best he can be,” Cignetti said. “Went 16-0, probably be the first guy taken in the draft. The thing I will say is, as good as he is, he still will improve immensely. Barely scratched the surface of his potential.”
Mendoza credited Cignetti for instilling a mindset of constant improvement. “We ended so strong with being 16-0 and doing something that’s never been done before,” Mendoza said. “I’m really just trying to learn from something Coach Cignetti says, which is to kill the complacency every single day.”
The 2026 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 23, with Round 1 at 5 p.m. on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes.
