Indiana Quarterback Fernando Mendoza Projected as a 1st-Round Pick

Back on Christmas Eve the Indiana Hoosiers got their best Christmas present they could ever imagine, landing California transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Mendoza was the third-leading passer in the ACC this season with 3,004 passing yards on 68.7% passing, 18 total touchdowns and 6 interceptions over 11 games, for Justin Wilcox and Cal.

ESPN's Pete Thamel, was the first to break the news.

Following Kurtis Rourke who was drafted by the 49ers in round seven, he has big shoes to follow. With all the hype heading into this season could Mendoza be a top pick in next year's draft?

SI and The Athletic both have published way-too-early 2026 mock drafts, and Mendoza is projected in the first round of both publications.

Sports Illustrated projects Fernando Mendoza as the No. 16 pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Here’s what SI's Bryan Fischer writes about the redshirt junior from Miami, Florida: 

At 6' 5" and 225 pounds, Mendoza looks like an NFL quarterback but really has a chance to elevate his stock by playing in the Big Ten after a quality campaign as a starter with the California Golden Bears. He has a bit of 'moxy' and could be the actual long-term Big Ben successor in Pittsburgh. 

Dean Brugler of The Athletic, projects Mendoza as the No. 27 pick by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 draft. 

Here’s what The Athletic's Dane Brugler said about Mendoza:

The fifth quarterback drafted in this mock, Mendoza was a pleasant surprise when watching the Cal offense this past season. He transferred to Indiana in the offseason, and it will be interesting to track his progress under Curt Cignetti.

"Mendoza transferred to Indiana from California and will look to lead the Hoosiers to similar heights as Kurtis Rourke, whom the 49ers selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft,"said Max Chadwick of PFF.

"He earned a solid 75.7 PFF passing grade with the Golden Bears this past season.

Mendoza is one of five quarterbacks projected to be selected in the first round according to mosy NFL Draft pundits and Dane Brugler, joining Texas' Arch Manning (No. 1 overall pick), South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers (No. 2), Penn State's Drew Allar (No. 5) and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier (No. 16).

This quarterback class is expected to be a lot more top heavy and deeper than this past year's class, who had 14 quarterbacks drafted but only 2 in the first round.

6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Mendoza has the prototypical size, athletic ability and arm talent that NFL looks for in the modern quarterback of the NFL. Mendoza, a junior has two years of eligibility remaining at Indiana.

Fernando Mendoza's NFL Comparison so far in his career is (high end) Daniel Jones with shades of Justin Herbert.