Fernando Mendoza Shows off Arm at Pro Day In Front of Raiders Brass amid NFL Draft Rumors

Fernando Mendoza got another chance to solidify his status as the presumptive No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL draft during Indiana's Pro Day on Wednesday.

Mendoza participated in throwing drills in front of a scouting contingent that was expected to include Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak.

Mendoza is projected to go to the Raiders with the No. 1 pick of the upcoming draft in the latest mock by Bleacher Report.

He ultimately attempted a total of 56 throws over a 20-minute span in front of the assembled NFL scouts, completing 53 passes with two drops, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe.

ESPN's Louis Riddick described Mendoza's workout ahead of his throwing drills as "super smooth."

"He was working on throwing off of different platforms, rolling right, rolling left off of play action fakes, driving the ball short, intermediate and deep," Riddick said on SportsCenter. "He just looks really composed. He looks, quite honestly, like a presumptive No. 1 overall pick, like a franchise-caliber quarterback."

Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy after leading Indiana on a perfect 16-0 run to the program's first national title.

He racked up 3,535 passing yards and led the nation with 41 passing touchdowns while throwing six interceptions on the season.

B/R NFL scout Damian Parson described Mendoza as an accurate passer with "high football IQ and quick post-snap processing."

Parson noted, however, that Mendoza has "average" pocket mobility and that he "lacks elite-level arm talent."

The passing accuracy Mendoza displayed during Wednesday's throwing session could have helped outweigh any concerns about his game for the Raiders front office.

Raiders leadership is set to follow up the throwing session by meeting with Mendoza on Wednesday afternoon in Bloomington, per Howe.

This will mark the third meeting between the quarterback and the Raiders, who also talked at the February scouting combine and over a Zoom call, Howe reported.