Fernando Mendoza hadn’t really been in the spotlight much during the pre-draft process, so when he showed up at Indiana’s pro day on April 1, people were paying attention.
And he looked the part.
Fernando Mendoza Gets a Bold Comparison Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft
It wasn’t anything flashy, just clean, controlled, on-time throws. The kind of workout that makes scouts feel comfortable. After skipping earlier events, this was his chance to remind everyone why he’s been in the No. 1 overall pick conversation, and he did exactly that.
Colin Cowherd definitely noticed. And, in classic Cowherd fashion, he didn’t exactly keep it subtle.
“You’re looking at Peyton Manning.”
“Peyton Manning was big, smart, self-aware and understood the NFL game.”
“Folks, you’re looking at Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning was big, smart, self-aware, and understood the NFL game.”@colincowherd has some LOFTY expectations for Fernando Mendoza after his Pro Day performance pic.twitter.com/AkXfkc3ZCz
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) April 2, 2026
Yeah… that’ll get people talking if it hasn’t already.
It’s a massive comparison, obviously, but Cowherd wasn’t just throwing it out there for shock value. He was pointing to how Mendoza plays more than anything else. Big frame, clearly smart, very detail-oriented, the type of quarterback who seems to understand what’s happening before the ball is even snapped.
That’s where the Manning comp comes from. Not saying he is Manning, but the way he approaches the position and operates feels very similar. He’s not out there freelancing; he’s running the show and prepared.
Still, that’s a heavy name to bring up. Manning is one of the best to ever do it, and Mendoza hasn’t taken an NFL snap yet. So yeah, it’s fair if people roll their eyes a bit at that.
But there’s a reason the hype is building.
Mendoza completed about 71.5% of his passes last season, which put him all the way up to sixth best nationally. What makes that number even better is that his Net Yards Per Pass Attempt was 9.1, meaning he wasn’t just dinking and dunking; he was stretching the field. More than that, it’s how he does it; he’s decisive, he’s accurate, and he looks like he knows where he’s going with the ball early. That’s not something every college quarterback has.
He’s also a little more mobile than Manning ever was, which helps. He can move if he needs to. But overall, he still wins from the pocket. He’s not relying on chaos; he’s picking defenses apart.
Right now, he’s sitting near the top of most big boards and looks like the favorite to go No. 1. PFSN’s consensus big board has him as a top-5 overall prospect and a clear runaway for the QB1 status.
The Manning comparison might be a bit much at this stage. But it does say something about how people view him. When you start getting mentioned in that kind of company, even loosely, it usually means you’re doing something right.
And if he keeps trending the way he is, that conversation probably isn’t going away anytime soon.
