Former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza is widely considered the undisputed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. After a historic season during which he led the Hoosiers to the Big Ten and national championships, Mendoza distinguished himself as the best player in college football, culminating in a Heisman Trophy win.
Mendoza has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Las Vegas Raiders, who own the No. 1 pick on draft night after finishing last season with a 3-14 record.
Kirk Herbstreit Compares Fernando Mendoza to Previous No. 1 Picks
During Thursday’s segment of the “This is Football” show, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit weighed in on Mendoza’s strengths in the NFL, while comparing him with the previous year’s No. 1 picks.
“I just don’t think he’s a Justin Herbert coming out of Oregon, that he’s so skilled, we’re gonna grow around him, and eventually he’s gonna keep us afloat, and eventually we’re gonna become elite once we get the right pieces around him,” Herbstreit said. “He’s a mind guy. He’s gonna hurt you with his mind. His preparation. His processing.”
He continued, “He’s elite at that level, and that’s 90% of the game. If you have the pieces around him, he’s a guy that you’re gonna fall in love with. He’s not your typical kid coming out of college. He’s mobile enough, but he’s not Caleb Williams, he’s not Cam Ward with the ability to make people miss.”
The Raiders’ offense struggled last season under former coach Pete Carroll, with veteran quarterback Geno Smith finishing with 19 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and 55 sacks, behind a leaky offensive line.
Urban Meyer Raises Mendoza to the Raiders Warning
During an appearance on “The Herd” on Wednesday, former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer lavished praise on Mendoza’s NFL-readiness, while warning the former quarterback about the Raiders’ organizational issues.
“I spent so much time with Mendoza. He’s more than ready. I compare him to Drake Maye. I just think that the guy is a coach on the field,” Meyer said. “The best version of Mendoza we’ve not seen yet. I just love this kid.”
“Like all first picks in the draft, you’re gonna go with the Raiders. Mark Ingram said that’s the worst pro football team he’s ever seen. My worry is, he gets stuck on a really bad team, and then he’s labeled a bust, which I can’t stand. QBs on bad teams are not busts.”
Mendoza had a historic season for the Hoosiers, earning a PFSN College QB Impact score of 93.3 after tallying 3,535 passing yards, resulting in 41 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 276 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
