With Indiana and Miami set to face off for the college football national championship on Monday night, a lot of eyes will be fixed on Hoosiers star quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The former Cal signal caller put together an outstanding season in 2025, having led Indiana to an undefeated 15-0 record heading into the final game. He has managed to throw for 3,349 yards and 41 touchdowns, while adding another 284 yards and six scores on the ground. 

On paper, there’s a lot to love about Mendoza, and he’s now projected to be the consensus top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft class. Despite the season he’s having, and the hype around Mendoza, there are still some varying opinions on the NFL level, as well as in the NFL Draft media space. It’s fair to ask just how well his game will translate to the next level. 

Along with fellow A to Z Sports NFL Draft analyst Joe DeLeone, we had the great Fernando Mendoza debate. While there was some common ground, this conversation continues to validate that there are many varying opinions on him. 

DeLeone’s take on Mendoza 

Mendoza is not a typical first-overall-pick-level prospect. While he may not have the elite traits of prospects like Cam Ward, Caleb Williams, or Drake Maye, he’s still worthy of being a high draft pick. In any other draft class, Mendoza would still be a top-five selection. Because of this year’s class having very few worthy quarterback prospects, he is justified in going first overall.

I look back at the 2016 NFL Draft, when Jared Goff was the Rams’ first pick. Goff wasn’t an elite prospect in terms of physical traits, but he possessed natural touch and decision-making. The Rams traded up to draft him to secure their future and to have a quarterback to build around.

I can also point to the 2022 NFL Draft when Bryce Young and CJ Stroud were selected with the top two picks. Both prospects were of high enough quality to be selected, but they had limitations. 

Mendoza arguably is a better prospect than Young, Stroud, and Goff. His precision and deciciveness sets him up to have an early impact in the NFL. Additionally, Mendoza possesses the frame and requisite athleticism typically needed to be a top-five pick.

At the end of the day, this comes down to a long list of teams needing to address the most important position in the sport. It’s extremely rare to find a quarterback prospect worthy of a high draft pick. Mendoza would significantly elevate the rosters of many struggling franchises, even if he’s not your usual top pick.

Roberts’ take on Mendoza 

Mendoza is an extremely likable player, even back to his days with Cal. He has the requisite size and is a very strong processor. His raw arm strength and pocket maneuverability is also requisite, which brings a strong floor to the table. Current Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff is a player that Mendoza is compared to a ton, and I think that comp makes a lot of sense. Both are, for NFL standards, good quarterbacks but have some limitations. 

It’s not Mendoza’s fault but the debate is going to center around circumstance. Fortunately for the 6-5, 225-pound signal caller is in a very weak 2026 class, so it feels like a safe bet for Mendoza to be selected with the top pick by the Las Vegas Raiders when April finally rolls around, especially after Dante Moore (Oregon) decided to return to school in 2026. The lack of quality quarterback options, however, has pushed Mendoza a bit too high up the board. 

Is this a player you would typically want to take with the top selection? There’s little question that Mendoza can function when things are solid around him, but is this the type of talent who can elevate others at a high level? Top selections, more often than not, are going to go to very bad football teams, which the Raiders are. I don’t think of Mendoza as a quarterback who is going to greatly change the trajectory of a program, but more just accentuate it. 

I like Mendoza as a quarterback, but I just can’t get to the point of loving him as a prospect. There’s just something missing.