Overview
- Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza declined to throw at the combine and confirmed he will conduct his passing workout at Indiana’s April 1 pro day.
- Official measurements listed Mendoza at about 6'4½" and 236 pounds, and he called his formal meeting with the Raiders "fantastic," noting a brief phone hello with minority owner Tom Brady.
- League reporting and on-site coverage describe Mendoza as the presumptive No. 1 selection, with the Raiders’ staff praising decision-making, timing and accuracy that align with Klint Kubiak’s system.
- Reporting from ESPN and others indicates Las Vegas plans to retain Geno Smith as a bridge starter if it drafts a quarterback, easing a rookie’s transition rather than starting him in Week 1.
- Evaluations remain split on Mendoza’s ceiling—some analysts label him elite while ESPN’s Matt Miller ranked him eighth among recent first-round QB prospects—while other passers such as Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia threw at the combine and are viewed as later-round options due to size.