The 2026 NFL Draft is less than three weeks away, and it is expected to bring little suspense at the top of the board.
That's because the top prospect in the 2026 draft class, former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, has emerged as the clear-cut favorite to be drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mendoza’s rise followed a standout final college season at Indiana, where he threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions while completing 72.0 percent of his passes.
Across his three-year career between California and Indiana, Mendoza totaled 8,247 passing yards, 71 touchdowns and a 68.6 completion rate, adding 11 rushing scores.
Mendoza has also drawn a comparison to former Atlanta Falcons franchise quarterback Matt Ryan from both ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum and NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
The pre-draft process of the Hoosiers' standout, however, drew some off-field scrutiny. Mendoza chose not to throw at the NFL Combine, opting instead to perform at his Pro Day with familiar teammates.
Now, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Mendoza is making a similar—yet much bigger— decision involving draft night.
“Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he is not planning to attend the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh this month, per sources,” Schefter reported. “Mendoza wants to share the draft experience with his family in Miami.”
The decision will mark the first time a projected No. 1 pick skips the event since fellow star quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence did it in 2021 while watching the Jacksonville Jaguars draft him at home with family and friends.
The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft will take place on Apr. 23, with the first pick scheduled to be announced shortly after 8 p.m. ET.
