Tag: Mendoza

Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Raiders receiving calls about No. 1 NFL draft pick

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Despite all signs pointing to the Raiders selecting quarterback Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Las Vegas general manager John Spytek has fielded calls from teams inquiring about the availability of the pick.

“We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said Tuesday at his pre-draft news conference.

The NFL draft will be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.

Spytek, who stated that he is keeping an open mind regarding trade offers, also addressed the topic of deals materializing during draft night.

“If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick,” Spytek said. “But if it’s a player that we’re not as excited about, or there’s a group of players that we would love to pick from and we can get value for that, we’re certainly open to listening to that.”

If the Raiders do select Mendoza, the former Indiana star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner would be the 30th quarterback to go No. 1 overall in the common draft era, which began in 1967.

Mendoza, who guided the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and their first national title in football in 2025, would be competing with veterans Kirk Cousins and Aidan O’Connell in Las Vegas. Along with new head coach Klint Kubiak, Spytek would rather see a rookie QB begin as a backup to a veteran.

“Ultimately, this is a meritocracy, and the best guy will play,” Spytek said. “It’s just really hard to play really well at a young age. But we’ve seen plenty of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we have Aidan, and we’ll see how it goes.”

–Field Level Media

Fernando Mendoza participates in Indiana University's Pro Day at Mellencamp Pavilion on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Fernando Mendoza not attending 2026 NFL Draft

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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is not among the 16 prospects planning to attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on April 23.

There will be a large Big Ten Conference presence without the Heisman Trophy winner. Five of the six Big Ten prospects are Ohio State Buckeyes: linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles Jr., wide receiver Carnell Tate, safety Caleb Downs and defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.

Alabama and Miami (Fla.) each have multiple players scheduled to be in the green room.

Mendoza is projected to the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. The Las Vegas Raiders pick first overall and the New York Jets are second.

The first round of the draft is held in primetime Thursday, April 23 with the second and third round the following night. Rounds 4-7 are completed Saturday.

Pittsburgh is hosting the NFL draft for the first time since 1948.

Players confirmed to attend the NFL draft:

1. David Bailey, LB, Texas Tech
2. Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami
3. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
4. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
5. Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn
6. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
7. Makai Lemon, WR, Southern California
8. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
9. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (Fla.)
10. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
11. Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
12. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
13. Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
14. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
15. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
16. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

–Field Level Media

Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) on the field before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Raiders strike deal with veteran QB Kirk Cousins

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Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins agreed to a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders, his agent confirmed Thursday.

Terms of the deal with the four-time Pro Bowl selection were not immediately available.

Cousins, 37, reunites with new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, his position coach and offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings from 2019-21.

In Las Vegas, Cousins potentially could serve as a mentor for Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Raiders in the April 23-25 NFL Draft.

The only quarterback on the Raiders’ current roster is Aidan O’Connell, a 2023 fourth-round pick who started 17 games from 2023-24 (7-10 record).

Cousins was released by the Atlanta Falcons on March 11, two years into a four-year, $180 million deal he signed with the club in March 2024.

Cousins struggled down the stretch during his first season with the Falcons in 2024, throwing 18 touchdowns to 16 interceptions and losing the starting job to rookie Michael Penix Jr. He played better when he stepped in for Penix after the latter’s season-ending injury last November, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 TDs and five picks in eight starts.

Over 174 games (167 starts) in 14 seasons, Cousins has completed 66.7% of his passes for 44,700 yards with 298 TDs and 131 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Fernando Mendoza participates in Indiana University's Pro Day at Mellencamp Pavilion on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza shows NFL skills for Raiders, others at pro day

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Fernando Mendoza changed his LinkedIn status to “Open to Work” in January, and the Indiana quarterback proved he is taking this professional football thing seriously at the Hoosiers’ pro day on Wednesday.

Most general managers and scouts downplay the meaning of pro day workouts as the culmination of a finely rehearsed routine, especially for quarterback prospects. But Mendoza delivered by putting the ball right on the money on repeat Wednesday, when he showed up bigger, stronger and faster than he was a few months ago when he declared for the draft.

Mendoza said he appreciated the audience but is keeping his focus on being ready to take the field in September.

“I’m trying to be the best me possible. Whatever team picks me, you only need one team to believe in you,” Mendoza said. “Whether I’m the first pick or the last pick, I’m trying to be the best quarterback possible in September.”

The Raiders are not hiding their affinity for Mendoza. They’ve met with the quarterback twice before Wednesday, when another formal sitdown was on Mendoza’s calendar.

The meeting Wednesday followed a Zoom meeting and their first encounter, a formal interview at the NFL Scouting Combine in February.

At least 10 members of the organization were present on Wednesday afternoon, all but solidifying Mendoza’s name will be called when Las Vegas makes the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh later this month.

The 20-minute workout included a total of 56 throws. He completed 53.

“I think the main goal today was to serve my teammates,” said Mendoza, who declined a workout at the NFL Scouting Combine to bring more scouts to the campus workout and share the spotlight with his IU brethren. “I think I was able to do that. Be able to put them in position to be able to make plays.”

Raiders general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak were locked on the proceedings from start to finish.

Mendoza weighed 236 pounds — 11 pounds heavier than his playing weight in the national championship game — and the Heisman Trophy winner didn’t show any signs of resting on his college credentials or trophy case.

Other than one overthrow on a 60-yard missile to Elijah Sarratt, Mendoza made all the throws scouts wanted to see and then some. His dart to EJ Williams was released from the other 40-yard line and caught in stride at the 6, drawing an audible reaction from observers encircling the field at Indiana’s indoor practice facility.

Mendoza’s Indiana teammates weren’t entirely overshadowed.

Cornerback D’Angelo Ponds was clocked at 4.31 in the 40-yard dash. At the combine, he only participated in jump tests and registered a 43 1/2-inch vertical.

Running back Roman Hemby, who said he began training for the draft the day after the national championship game, said he wants to get to the NFL and stay there, and he feels he owes a debt of gratitude to Mendoza.

“That’s a guy that’s a great leader, a great person,” Hemby said. “He doesn’t have to do some of the things he does. He wanted to go out there and showcase the guys. That shows the type of person he is. That’s why we love him.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) throws in the third quarter against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Reports: Raiders to release QB Geno Smith

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Geno Smith is expected to be released by the Raiders before the start of the league year on March 11, when the long-expected vacancy at quarterback in Las Vegas reportedly will become official.

The Raiders are projected to use the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, but at the NFL Scouting Combine last month, general manager John Spytek appeared to keep the door open for Smith to stick around. He said the Raiders don’t necessarily want a rookie to take the snaps as the starter in Week 1 of the 2026 regular season.

Kenny Pickett, Smith’s backup who took over late in the season when he was injured, is a free agent.

But releasing Smith after one season as the team’s starter will save the Raiders $8 million in cap space, sparing the automatic guarantee in Smith’s contract that would’ve hit the books March 13.

The Raiders would eat $18.5 million in dead money but cutting Smith, who was acquired in March 2025 in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks to be the starter for Pete Carroll.

Carroll didn’t last a second season and Smith barely survived the physical beating of playing behind one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines.

He threw a league-worst 17 interceptions and passed for 3,025 yards with 15 touchdowns in 15 starts. He was sacked 55 times.

Smith, 35, has played for five NFL franchises since being drafted 39th overall by the Jets in 2013.

–Field Level Media

Jan 31, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; National quarterback Cole Payton (9) of North Dakota State throws the ball during the second half of the 2026 Senior Bowl at University of South Alabama, Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Top 5 Quarterback prospects in 2026 NFL Draft

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Ahead of the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Field Level Media draft analysts ranked the top prospects at every position.

There is only one quarterback — Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner who helped the Hoosiers claim the national title — worthy of a first-round grade.

But quarterbacks rise as the draft closes in and reality hits the teams without a certifiable QB at the center of their plans.

Which one — or two? — could rise in 2026?

Quarterbacks are on the road to the draft with the NFL Scouting Combine next week, arriving in Indianapolis on Wednesday and Thursday for medical evaluations. They’ll conduct media sessions on Friday and be on the field Saturday for position drills, agility tests and the 40-yard dash.

Pro days often take precedent at this position. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza plans to hold off on throwing until the on-campus workout and pro day in Bloomington on April 1.

1. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
6-5, 225
Tall, well-built pocket passer with quick release and rapid, high-level processing speed. Wins with excellent anticipation, accuracy and ball placement.

2. Ty Simpson, Alabama
6-2, 208
Well-rounded with adequate arm strength, accuracy, even as a one-year starter who battled inconsistency and ended the season hurt (ribs).

3. Taylen Green, Arkansas
6-6, 225
If he runs a 4.5 and would consider changing positions, there will be some interest. Green might prefer to utilize his genetic lottery-winning trains — exceptional size and speed — to give QB a try. He’s the very definition of boom-or-bust.

4-T. Carson Beck, Miami
6-4, 220
Wins with accuracy and ball placement and is tough as a blitz-beating pocket passer. Arm strength isn’t elite.

4-T. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
6-1, 215
NFL bloodlines and ties with current Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. He’s a known commodity to pro teams and two-year starter in the SEC. But injuries led to sloppy mechanics and poor production last season, when he wound up sharing the QB1 role. Earned back some points with a strong Senior Bowl, but the final grade depends almost entirely on which team is doing the math.

5. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
6-1, 210
With footwork and athletic tools, Klubnik is a pro system QB candidate because of his accuracy on short and intermediate throws. His height, top-end arm talent and deep ball accuracy limit his ceiling.

–Finding a wildcard at quarterback has forever been a front-office mission in the NFL. This year’s mid-round find could come from North Dakota State. Cole Payton, a pocket passer who thrived in the FCS with an attack mentality, can also move if the system calls for mobility or RPO-based action. Trust he will be opening eyes during QB throwing sessions at Lucas Oil Stadium. The southpaw stuck with NDSU despite hearing from Nebraska and other FBS programs late in his senior season and it has begun paying off. He got a lot of attention in Mobile at the Senior Bowl for his timing and arm talent.

–Field Level Media

Report: Indiana QB Alberto Mendoza enters transfer portal

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Indiana reserve quarterback Alberto Mendoza, the younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, entered the transfer portal, ESPN reported Tuesday.

The news came one day after the top-ranked Hoosiers completed a 16-0 season with a 27-21 victory against Miami in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Alberto Mendoza, a 6-foot-2, 207-pound redshirt freshman, played 102 snaps across nine games during the season. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards with five touchdowns and one interception and rushed for 190 yards and one score.

His departure was not unexpected after Indiana signed TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover earlier this month. Hoover started 31 games for the Horned Frogs and passed for 9,629 yards and 71 TDs from 2022-25.

Players from Indiana and Miami have until Saturday to enter the transfer portal, which is already closed to players from other schools.

–Field Level Media

Peach Bowl places top QBs under pre-draft microscope

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Tune into the Peach Bowl if you are a fan of good, old fashioned quarterback competition.

Long since settled as starting quarterbacks, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza of No. 1 Indiana are showcase attractions in the spotlight College Football Playoff semifinal in Atlanta on Friday night.

Squaring off for the second time this season — Round 1 went to Mendoza and the Hoosiers in a turning-point win — it won’t be the final time for a tale of the tape between the 20-year-old Moore and 22-year-old Mendoza.

Win or lose Friday, fans and armchair roster-building pundits will be measuring these quarterbacks by trait and every measurable comparison and contrasting skill all the way up until the Las Vegas Raiders call out the name of the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

“Beating a great team twice is extremely difficult. They’re star studded on both offense and defense,” Mendoza said on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “Draft picks all across the board. Having to play them twice is going to be tough. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

Score the first few rounds to Mendoza, a transfer to Indiana from Cal who faced Moore during his UCLA cameo. The Hoosiers topped Oregon, 30-20, when they met at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Oct. 11.

“I gotta give Fernando his credit. He’s had a hell of a year. He’s had some great years,” Moore said. “This is our third time playing against each other. He’s somebody that works his tail off. Very smart quarterback, talented quarterback.”

Field Level Media rates Moore as the No. 2 quarterback in the draft behind Mendoza, with Alabama’s Ty Simpson — who lost to Mendoza at the Rose Bowl last week and entered the draft on Wednesday — on their heels.

Moore downplayed the looming stay-or-go call he’ll face when Oregon’s season ends. He said the difference this week from when he left UCLA for Oregon was his destination was a choice he had made long before entering the transfer portal.

“At the end of the day, when I started football at four years old, everybody’s goal is get into the National Football League,” Moore said. Yeah, there’s going to be all these things going on. I’m human. I see it on social media. But I told myself that I shouldn’t be engaged with it, because if I do, I’m thinking about myself and I’m not thinking about the 10 other guys on the field with me. So I gotta make sure I give them my 100 percent love and attention, because without them I wouldn’t be in the situation I am now. So I’m thankful for my teammates, and it’s going to be a great game. And when I see Fernando again and we talk after the game, whenever we do, I’m just glad I got to play against him.”

Former NFL coach Bruce Arians, who coached Peyton Manning and Tom Brady during his extensive offensive coaching career, recently likened Mendoza to Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Brady, a driving force of the Raiders’ offseason as a minority owner, praised Mendoza’s ability to “think the game” and anticipate adjustments from defenses.

Mendoza leads the FBS with 36 touchdown passes and threw six interceptions. He also had six rushing touchdowns.

There will be troops in the Moore camp if he decides not to return to Oregon because of his easy arm strength and feel for the pocket.

Moore threw two interceptions and was sacked six times in the first matchup with Indiana this season.

–Field Level Media

Heisman presentation scores highest ratings in 13 years

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Saturday night’s Heisman Trophy presentation to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza drew the largest television audience for the event since 2012.

The show averaged 4.3 million viewers on ABC, the highest number since 2012 when 4.9 million watched Texas A&M signal-caller Johnny Manziel become the first freshman to win the prestigious award.

It was the first time the audience topped 4 million since 2013 (4.18 million) and the first to even exceed 3 million since 2015 (3.06 million), according to Nielsen.

Saturday’s audience peaked at 5.8 million, a 69% increase from the previous year on ESPN (2.52 million).

ESPN aired the Heisman Trophy presentation from 1994-2024. The last time it was presented on broadcast TV before Saturday was in 1993 on NBC.

Mendoza has guided the unbeaten Hoosiers (13-0) to the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. He has passed for 2,980 yards with an NCAA-best 33 touchdowns and six interceptions.

–Field Level Media

QBs Fernando Mendoza, Diego Pavia, Julian Sayin among Heisman finalists

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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love are headed to New York this weekend after being selected as finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday.

The winner will be revealed Saturday at the annual Heisman Trophy dinner.

Mendoza is seen as the favorite to bag the award after leading the Hoosiers to a 13-0 record, a Big Ten championship and the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Mendoza and Sayin just went head to head Saturday night when Indiana defeated Ohio State 13-10 for the conference title. Mendoza had 222 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. Sayin finished with 258 passing yards, one TD and one pick as the Buckeyes took their first loss of the year and settled for the No. 2 playoff seed.

Mendoza, who transferred from Cal after last season, racked up 2,980 yards, 33 touchdowns and only six interceptions while completing 71.5% of his passes for Indiana. He added 240 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Sayin, in his first season starting for the Buckeyes, threw for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns and six picks this season. He completed an FBS-best 78.4% of his throws.

Pavia, like Mendoza, engineered a turnaround for a football program that historically has known little success. It was Pavia’s second season for the Commodores after starting his career at New Mexico State. He threw for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns and eight interceptions and rushed for 826 yards and nine TDs in 2025.

Love ranked fourth in the country with 1,372 rushing yards and third nationally with 18 rushing touchdowns over 12 games. He added 27 catches for 280 yards and three receiving TDs.

–Field Level Media