2026 NFL Scouting Report: Fernando Mendoza

Prospect Summary:

After growing up in South Florida, Mendoza was not a top recruit coming out of high school, and he ended up going across the country to Cal. As a freshman in 2023, Mendoza completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,708 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In 2024, Mendoza showed improved accuracy and decision-making with the Bears, completing 69 percent of his passes for 3,004 yards with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. After that season, Mendoza transferred to Indiana, and he was a great fit with the Hoosiers. Mendoza led Indiana to the National Championship and won the Heisman Trophy. He completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. He had seven rushing touchdowns as well.

Mendoza is a polished pocket passer with a strong arm, good size, and is very intelligent. There is no doubt that Mendoza has a power arm capable of firing fastballs into tight windows to beat good coverage, and the ability to easily push the ball vertically down the field. Mendoza has advanced and impressive ball placement, as he is superb at throwing back shoulder and fade passes. With superb location, Mendoza routinely puts the ball where his receiver can make a play, or the pass will go incomplete. Mendoza does a great job of avoiding interceptions, and it was very rare to see him make an interception-worthy throw in 2025. With good accuracy, Mendoza is capable of beating tight coverage with the location of his passes.

Mendoza is a polished pocket passer with good height. He reads the field well and works through his progressions. While Mendoza has some athleticism to avoid sacks and scramble, he is not a true running threat. When he takes off and runs, Mendoza shows some surprising straight-line speed, but he is not a dual-threat quarterback for the NFL. As a pocket passer, Mendoza does show toughness as he hangs tough in the pocket, is not afraid of getting hit, and continues to battle even after he takes some shots.

Mendoza has a bit of a unique personality according to some team sources, but he does have good football character as he is a hard worker, intelligent, loves football, and is a great teammate. Mendoza has some room to improve his footwork as a pro.

In the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza is poised to be the first player drafted. He looks like a starting quarterback early in his career with the potential to be a franchise quarterback.