The 2026 NFL draft is on the way, and Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza will take center stage at the event. The draft is set for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The draft, in its 91st year, has a long history, with its roots dating back to the 1930s, according to the NFL. The draft got its start in 1934, when Philadelphia Eagles co-owner Bert Bell felt that his team was at a disadvantage in getting the finest players.
Now, in a Monday, March 16 feature for Sportsnaut, via Yahoo Sports, Matt Johnson gives five bold 2026 NFL draft predictions, and one has to do directly with Mendoza.
“While there are still a few weeks left for prospects to raise or lower their stock during the pre-draft process, we are taking our first stab at what could happen on draft night in April,” he notes in the article.
In the piece, Johnson actually says that he believes Mendoza will be the only quarterback drafted in the first round. Of course, he’ll go to the Las Vegas Raiders.
More sports news: NFL Legend Eyeing One-Off Return to Football at Age 66: Report
“Everyone knows that reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza will be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first overall pick,” he states in the piece. “The true uncertainty is where the consensus second-best quarterback prospect, Ty Simpson, lands in the 2026 NFL Draft.”
He adds, “The Pittsburgh Steelers, 21st overall, seemed like a potential landing spot, but reports have since made it pretty clear that will not happen. Maybe a team like the Arizona Cardinals or New York Jets moves up into the end of the first round to land the Alabama signal-caller, but both teams seem to be positioning themselves more for a top passer in the 2027 class.”
More sports news: Chiefs’ Travis Kelce Taking Action After Taylor Swift Wedding Leaks
So, in the end, he believes “that another quarterback’s name will not be called after Mendoza walks off the stage until Day 2.”
Fernando Mendoza’s NFL profile says of the player, “He’s still young with football to learn and adversity to face, but his character, competitiveness and rapid ascension make it easier to project he will be a very good starter within his first three seasons.”
The profile adds, “He can make life easier on his receivers and his play-caller, but above-average pass protection feels like a non-negotiable.”
Read the full article here
