Fernando Mendoza Shines at Pro Day, Raiders Officials Attend

Fernando Mendoza, an anticipated No. 1 overall pick for the 2026 NFL draft, completed his Pro Day at Indiana University on April 1. The workout drew significant attention from NFL scouts and officials.

Raiders Brass in Attendance

Officials from the Las Vegas Raiders were notably present at the workout. This contingent included general manager John Spytek, head coach Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, and quarterback coach Mike Sullivan, signaling keen interest in the young quarterback.

Adapting to Pro Style

Mendoza, who primarily played from the shotgun in college, demonstrated his versatility by performing snaps from under center and traditional dropbacks. His footwork and comfort in these techniques were noted, indicating focused pre-draft training and adaptability to various offensive schemes.

Mobility and Play-Action

The quarterback also executed several play-action passes and bootlegs. He maintained accuracy while throwing on the run, a skill highly relevant to Kubiak's playbook and modern NFL offenses. While his performance on the move was strong, his ability to diagnose coverages during these plays in a live game environment remains an area for future evaluation.

Showcasing Arm Talent

Mendoza demonstrated his arm strength through a series of deep throws. After an initial overthrown pass, he quickly recovered, completing significant deep shots. These included a pylon route and a post route, both hitting receivers in stride with impressive precision.

Pinpoint Accuracy on Display

Accuracy, a consistent strength throughout Mendoza's career, was prominently evident during the session. He completed an impressive 53 out of 56 attempts. A deep pass was noted as his only personal incompletion, with other incompletions attributed to drops by receivers rather than Mendoza's throw.

The Pro Day served as a final pre-draft assessment, reaffirming Mendoza's projected status as the top pick for the 2026 NFL draft.