Earlier this week CBS Sports' College and NFL Draft Analyst Mike Renner released an updated 2026 NFL Draft mock draft with a major surprise at the very top, as Rennerprojected Fernando Mendoza to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in next year's 2026 draft.
"The Browns will almost certainly be going quarterback if they end up picking No. 1 overall," Renner wrote, "and with Arch Manning expected to return to school, Fernando Mendoza feels like the best fit of the bunch for head coach Kevin Stefanski's offense (should the two-time NFL Coach of the Year be retained). He's got a plus NFL arm paired with quick decision-making and tight-window accuracy. He'll get a chance to shine on a bigger stage this year at Indiana after carrying Cal the past two seasons."
Renner's current draft rankings have the Indiana quarterback (Mendoza) as the No. 13 overall draft prospect and No. 3 overall quarterback prospect, behind Arch Manning of Texas and Garrett Nussmeier of LSU. Behind Mendoza is Penn State's Drew Allar, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers and Clemson's Cade Klubnik.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior quarterback and Miami, Florida native was the No. 4 QB and the No. 22 player overall in the transfer portal last offseason, per 247 Sports.
“It was taking a chance on myself leaving Cal in order to chase that development,” said Mendoza, who threw for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions in 11 games for the Bears last season. “(Cignetti)’s an offensive mind, he holds everyone to a high standard and his program always wins.”
Mendoza has a ton of talent around him this year at Indiana and that why the program comes in ranked at No. 20 overall in the nation. Mendoza himself was on numerous preseason award watchlist, along with his teammates wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, defensive end Mikail Kamara, linebacker Aiden Fisher, cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, long snapper Mark Langston, wide receiver Makai Jackson, and running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black.
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.”
The potential No. 1 overall pick kicks off his season with Indiana at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, when the Hoosiers hosts Old Dominion at Merchants Bank Field inside Memorial Stadium.