By OLIVER SALT, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 15:04 EST, 27 February 2026 | Updated: 15:08 EST, 27 February 2026
Presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza has revealed an NFL team jokingly told him to get arrested in order to slide down this year's Draft.
The highly-rated quarterback, who recently helped Indiana become national champions, is widely expected to be taken first overall after closing out his college career in style last month.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the top pick heading into the 2026 Draft in April, and Geno Smith's struggles under center last season mean they will almost certainly use it on Mendoza.
Yet that hasn't stopped teams with lower Draft picks from trying their luck.
In an interview with CBS Sports at the NFL Combine this week, Mendoza was asked for the most 'bizarre' question he has received from a potential suitor.
After laughing, he recalled being asked: '"Hey, maybe you should get arrested."'
Fernando Mendoza has revealed an NFL team asked him to get arrested to slide down the Draft
The Indiana quarterback is widely expected to be taken with the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft
The most bizarre question that Fernando Mendoza has been asked during his draft interviews
"It was: 'Hey, maybe you should get arrested.' I was a little confused, but then it was like to slide."
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— NFL on CBS ð (@NFLonCBS) February 27, 2026
'I was a little confused, but it was to slide [in the Draft],' Mendoza added. 'Hopefully I don't get arrested.'
However, he also remained tight-lipped about their identity, saying: 'It was not one of the teams that I had a formal interview with, so I don't want to expose the team.'
Mendoza, who is not throwing at the ongoing scouting combine in Indianapolis, has emerged as the presumptive No. 1 pick after a sensational campaign that included a game-winning throw to beat Penn State and a heroic quarterback sneak for the decisive score in the national title game against Miami.
Not only did he lead the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record, but he also tossed for 3,535 yards with an FBS-best 41 touchdown passes and just six picks.
While the Indiana hero is seemingly on his way to Las Vegas, neither minority Raiders owner Tom Brady or his college teammate and Raiders general manager John Spytek have tipped their hand as far as Mendoza is concerned.
Spytek did, however, discuss the traits he's looking for in a franchise quarterback.
'It's such a hard game, your competitive spirit has to run really high,' he told reporters in Indianapolis. 'You've got to be willing to play through, you know, tough circumstances and to me, it always goes back to the love of the game.
'The guys that truly love football, they love to practice, they love to prepare, they love to watch film, they love to play hurt, so I think those things are kind of uncompromising.'