Fernando Mendoza Reportedly Expected to Declare for 2026 NFL Draft But 'Not a Lock'

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is believed to be in the running for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, but it sounds like it's not guaranteed that he will jump to the pros just yet.

NFL draft expert Todd McShay reported during Thursday's episode of The McShay Show (10:45 mark) that Mendoza "is believed to be leaving after this year, but it's not a lock."

In its latest mock draft, B/R's NFL Scouting Department predicted that Mendoza would be selected by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 1 pick. However, he will have to decide if he wants to forego his senior season with the Hoosiers and declare for the draft.

Mendoza leads a talented crop of underclassman quarterbacks, such as Texas' Arch Manning, South Carolina's LaNorris Sellers, Oklahoma's John Mateer, Alabama's Ty Simpson and Oregon's Dante Moore. McShay reported that there's a sense that Mendoza is "the most likely of those guys to leave for the NFL and not return to college football, but nobody knows definitively."

In his first year with Indiana after transferring from Cal, Mendoza has led the Hoosiers to a 9-0 start and a No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25. He's thrown for 2,124 yards, 25 touchdowns and four interceptions while adding 220 rushing yards and four more scores.

It's clear that Mendoza has a bright future in the NFL, but teams could have to wait another year before getting the chance to draft him.