Tons of quarterbacks are getting buzz to go No. 1 overall next season including Clemson's Cade Klubnik, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and Texas' Arch Manning, get the most preseason hype, but the first quarterback off the board in next year's NFL Draft may play in Bloomington, Indiana in Fernando Mendoza.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is one to watch for the 2026 #NFLDraft -- NFL Draft Bible Big Board Ranks The Top 65 Quarterbacks In The Nation: https://t.co/Bh4SJL87yg pic.twitter.com/iPfwMo6RiH
— Ric Serritella (@RicSerritella) July 21, 2025
Here’s what ESPN's Jordan Reid says about Mendoza’s chance to go No. 1 at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh next April:
Predicted chance of going No. 1: 12%
Why he could be the top pick: Mendoza transferred from Cal to Indiana, where he enters a quarterback-friendly offense. Kurtis Rourke transitioned from the MAC to Curt Cignetti’s offense and was drafted in the seventh round of this past draft. The ceiling for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Mendoza is even higher.
“I really liked Mendoza’s tape,” an NFC area scout said. “He’s the one to circle that could be a bigger riser, and Cignetti has a great track record with transfer QBs.”
Mendoza threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions and blends a strong arm with plus mobility for his size. He can stand and deliver in the pocket with ease and is extremely accurate — his 5.1% off-target percentage last season was the best in the FBS. He also excelled throwing outside of the pocket, with a 91.1 QBR. Sometimes he’ll break the pocket prematurely instead of allowing concepts to fully develop, so scouts would like to see him be more patient in those situations.
""To have an offensive-minded coaching staff was extremely important for me and to get that development was really important for me.""Mendoza told CBS Sports
CBS Sports NFL Draft Expert Ryan Wilson on Mendoza:
"Pocket passer but not a statue; he buys time with subtle pocket movements, excels off-platform and when needed, can stride out in open field." Wilson wrote. "Will get through reads while hanging in a pocket closing in around him. Consistently played with pressure in his face, yet consistently stood tall in the pocket and delivered strikes to all three levels on time and accurately. Ball consistently comes out on time and with touch/accuracy to all three levels. Good feel for pocket pressure, can climb with eyes downfield and deliver accurately off-platform."
CBS Sports' Josh Edwardsas the No. 11 overall prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft while Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice wrote last month, "Mendoza's talent, along with his high football IQ, in an offense that pushes all the right buttons in a smorgasbord scheme has the potential for fireworks." Tice ranked him as the No. 1 QB in the 2026 draft class.
The 2026 NFL Draft class is absolutely loaded with talent. The class could include Texas’ Arch Manning, Penn State’s Drew Allar, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt, UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava, Oregon’s Dante Moore and Miami’s Carson Beck.
Indiana opens the 2025 season on Aug. 30 when they host Old Dominion in Bloomington.