The New Orleans Saints are at a crossroads. They have an aging roster, salary cap issues, and a quarterback room that features Spencer Rattler and 2025 second-round pick Tyler Shough. Neither quarterback has inspired much confidence, and the Saints are already 0-3 in 2025, getting outscored by opponents by 43 points.
It’s still early, but the Saints have the inside track on the first-overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Unlike 2025, this draft was supposed to be packed with quarterback talent in the first round. Despite all of the speculation and hype about the potential of Texas QB Arch Manning being drafted by the Saints, the reality is shaping up differently.
Who Are the Saints Projected to Draft No. 1 Overall?
According to PFSN’s Owain Jones, the Saints are projected to draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall in 2026.
“Fernando Mendoza has undoubtedly been the most electrifying NFL Draft-eligible quarterback in the early going,” Jones writes.
“The Cal transfer has earned a stellar 84.4 (B) PFSN’s College QBi grade and has emerged as an NFL Draft media darling. The Indiana signal-caller has prototypical size at 6’5” and 225 pounds and possesses explosive rushing ability and cannon-like arm strength.”
So far in his career, Mendoza has completed 494 passes for 5,687 yards with 44 touchdowns and added another 273 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground.
The preseason buzz was all about Manning, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, Mendoza, and LaNorris Sellers. Still, a third into the regular season, Mendoza has put himself head and shoulders above the rest.
In just four games in 2025, Mendoza has completed 76 of 99 passes for 975 yards with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. To be fair, he’s put these numbers up against Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Indiana State, and Illinois, with the Fighting Illini being the only ranked (No. 9) team he has played against thus far.
3-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Fernando Mendoza Is QB1, While Lions, Ravens Bolster Pass Rush
However, he will have plenty of opportunities to burnish his draft stock in 2025. After a road game against Iowa on Saturday, the Hoosiers go on the road to play No. 6 Oregon in one of college football’s most challenging environments at Autzen Stadium.
After that, Mendoza will face Michigan State and UCLA at home before facing No. 3 Penn State and Allar in Happy Valley.
The biggest criticism Mendoza faces is that the Hoosiers don’t have a slate of quality opponents, but if they can take care of business in the regular season and Mendoza makes a deep run in the College Football Playoff, the point becomes moot.
For the Saints, the chance to hit the reset button with a potential franchise quarterback is the only move for them, and Mendoza looks like he could be their man.
