Former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza received the loudest cheers of any prospect at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis last week, despite not participating in any on-field drills. Mendoza is widely expected to be selected No. 1 overall on draft night after a sensational season with the Hoosiers.
The 2026 NFL Draft class, which is headlined by Mendoza, has been widely tagged as one of the lightest on quarterback talent. But do all agree?
Fernando Mendoza’s Quarterback Franchise Hype Questioned
During Tuesday’s segment of the “4th and 1” podcast, former Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton made a huge claim about Mendoza’s pedigree vis-a-vis the quality of the 2026 quarterback class.
“When I look at the 2026 draft class, I don’t really see no franchise quarterbacks,” Newton said. “I don’t think Fernando Mendoza is a franchise quarterback on paper. And it ain’t no knock on Fernando, but let’s keep it a buck about Mr. Mendoza. He wasn’t the real reason that the Indiana Hoosiers were in a national championship to begin with.
“He was back with a great team that was led with three great phases of football and they had one of the oldest rosters in college football. That ain’t a knock on Fernando, that’s just a reality check on what his circumstances were. This is the absolute worst quarterback draft class in the last two decades.”
Mendoza joined the Hoosiers from the California Golden Bears and helped coach Curt Cignetti’s team complete a clean sweep of the Big Ten title and national championship for the first time in program history last season. In addition, Mendoza collected the most prestigious individual accolade, the Heisman Trophy, in December.
Analyst Questions Mendoza’s QB1 Pedigree
During Monday’s segment of the “Rich Eisen Show,” analyst Todd McShay made a stunning proclamation about Mendoza’s place as the QB1 in the 2026 NFL Draft class as compared to former Alabama Crimson Tide star Ty Simpson, who has been tabbed as the class’s QB2.
“I’m in the camp that the gap between him and Mendoza is not nearly as big as the public seems to think, although there is, I understand it, and it’s much greater between Simpson and QB3,” McShay said.
“Specifically, if you were kind of dropped into this as an NFL coach, and you were handed the first eight or even nine tapes for both Mendoza and Simpson, I promise you Simpson’s tape’s better. If you’re looking for the best of Ty Simpson versus the best of Mendoza, I don’t see it as a huge gap.”
Last season, Mendoza earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 93.3 after tallying 3,535 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions, while adding 276 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
In contrast, Simpson registered 3,567 passing yards, resulting in 28 touchdowns and five interceptions, while adding 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns, earning a PFSN College QB Impact score of 85.4.
