Everything points to Fernando Mendoza going No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. That expectation remains unchanged.
After his pro day at Indiana, where he impressed scouts by completing 53 of 56 passes, his draft status feels locked in. The buzz has been steady, and nothing has shaken that projection. What is different, however, is how he is choosing to handle draft night.
Fernando Mendoza Is Skipping the 2026 NFL Draft Stage
According to Adam Schefter, Mendoza will not be in Pittsburgh. He is skipping the green room and the walk across the stage. Instead, he plans to stay home in Miami and watch the event with his family.
That decision is rare for a quarterback expected to go first overall. The last time it happened was with Trevor Lawrence in 2021. While that was during the tail end of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, Lawrence chose to stay at Clemson to watch with friends and family. Mendoza’s decision is similar, a personal choice to celebrate in the city where he grew up, months after leading Indiana to a national title.
Future #1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza informed league officials that will not attend NFL Draft in Pittsburgh later because he wants to share the draft experience with his family in Miami, per Adam Schefter.
The last time a #1 overall pick QB did not attend the NFL Draft was… pic.twitter.com/6xcEPZFJrN
— College Football Alerts  (@CFBAlerts_) April 7, 2026
The move aligns with his unique collegiate path. A year ago, he was at Cal before transferring to Indiana, where his trajectory took off in an unexpected fashion. He led the nation with a 90.3 QBR, throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, and punctuated the season with the decisive touchdown run in the national title game against Miami. On top of that, Indiana finished with the No. 1 offense in the country by PFSN’s CFB Offensive Impact Score.
Now he sits as the clear QB1 and a top-five overall prospect according to PFSN’s consensus big board. He is set to go first overall to the Raiders and their new head coach, Klint Kubiak, who was hired in February to replace Pete Carroll.
So, while he could be on stage in Pittsburgh for the traditional handshake with the commissioner, he is keeping the celebration small. Mendoza is staying home in Miami, surrounded by the people who were there before the hype arrived.
Ultimately, the location does not change the outcome. The Raiders are getting their guy, and Mendoza is about to become the face of a franchise. Las Vegas expects the same player who took the college football world by storm to get the franchise back on track in the AFC West.
If anything, skipping the stage just makes the moment more personal.
