CFB Coach Questions If Fernando Mendoza Has 'Elite Skill Set' amid Raiders, NFL Draft Rumors

At least one college coach who faced Indiana during the 2025 season isn't convinced Fernando Mendoza has earned his spot as the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

The coach told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman he was "kind of surprised" to see the consensus belief that the Las Vegas Raiders will select Mendoza at the top of the draft.

"I don't know if he has an elite skill set. He does a lot of things really well," the coach told Feldman. "But those first-pick-in-the-draft guys, they usually have some kind of elite skill, whether it's freaky arm strength or athleticism. Generational talents.

"I was in the NFL and we had one of those guys, and it was easy to see why he was the first pick of the draft, the first day he went to OTAs. It's that tangible ability."

A Big Ten defemsove backs coach added:

"He has good stature and is very composed. He played really well against us, but I just don't think he's Drake Maye as far as arm talent and athleticism. If he was coming out with C.J. Stroud, I'd take C.J. I do think Fernando's intangibles are through the roof. But I think he's the first quarterback in the draft more based off circumstance."

Mendoza is projected to go to the Raiders at No. 1 by both Feldman and the most recent Bleacher Report mock draft.

The B/R NFL scouting department wrote that the pick "feels like the closest thing to a slam-dunk with the No. 1 selection since the Jacksonville Jaguars took Trevor Lawrence atop the 2021 class."

B/R NFL scout Damian Parson also noted, however, that Mendoza has "average" pocket mobility and "lacks elite-level arm talent."

The Raiders could be hoping adding center Tyler Linderbaum this offseason will help provide some additional protection to help Mendoza succeed during his rookie season.

Mendoza did not participate in passing drills at the NFL scouting combine in February, although he will be throwing during Indiana's Pro Day session on Wednesday.

The Raiders are expected to bring a sizable contingent to watch Mendoza at the Pro Day, including general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak, according to the California Post's Vincent Bonsignore.

"We'll watch him throw the football and get a chance to spend some time with him more than we have," Spytek said about the Raiders' visit to Indiana (h/t ESPN's Ryan McFadden). "We've had a couple of touch points, but just looking forward to getting on campus and seeing him operate in his building and having that be a big part of the evaluation."

Both Raiders scouts and fans will get their next look at Mendoza when Indiana's Pro Day session airs on NFL Network at 1 p.m. ET.