Fernando Mendoza

Mendoza has an easy, quick release. He has the necessary arm strength to make every throw required in the NFL. His touch and ball placement are strong. He leads his receivers on crossers well and doesn't limit YAC opportunities while also being able to drop it in the bucket for go routes. He can sling it from multiple arm angles. His pocket presence is excellent. Mendoza doesn't drift in the pocket. He will climb versus the rush and has no issues standing tall against incoming pressure to deliver the ball to his receivers. While he isn't an electric athlete, Mendoza is a solid opportunistic scrambler. He can pick up a few yards with his legs when the situation calls for it. Mendoza isn't an off-script artist, but he can make some plays outside of structure. It's not a world that he seeks to live in and shouldn't. There's something to be said for being a "boring" quarterback that can be trusted to run an offense. He'll have to adjust to tighter windows in the NFL. It's not a consistent issue for Mendoza, but he did show some hesitancy pulling the trigger early in 2025 when faced with smaller throwing windows. He would pump and pat the ball at times, but he did improve in this aspect throughout the 2025 season, ripping it more consistently with confidence toward the end of the season. Mendoza didn't work much under center, which will be a hurdle with his transition to the NFL with footwork, etc. It will help that last year, Klint Kubiak allowed Sam Darnold to work from shotgun on 63.3% of his dropbacks. Don't be surprised if Kubiak bumps that rate up some for his rookie quarterback in 2026.

Fernando Mendoza, the projected top overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, will not throw at this week's NFL Combine. He will, however, throw at Indiana's pro day on April 1 to help showcase Hoosier pass catchers.

Fantasy Impact

Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is expected to be the top overall pick at this year's NFL Draft. He threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, against only six interceptions, in leading Indiana to a 16-0 record and the program's first-ever National Championship. Instead of throwing to unfamiliar receivers at the combine, Mendoza will save his arm until April where he will throw to the same receivers who helped him rewrite Indiana's record books.