Indiana Hoosiers star Fernando Mendoza won’t showcase his abilities at the 2026 NFL Combine, but he is in attendance to watch other prospects and meet with teams. Mendoza, widely considered the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, is a sought-after player.
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So much so that one team proposed a bizarre idea so they could have a chance at drafting him in April. During a conversation with CBS Sports on Friday, Mendoza said somebody suggested he should get arrested so his draft stock took some hits.
“It was: ‘Hey, maybe you should get arrested.’ I was a little confused, but then it was like to slide. So, hopefully, I don’t get arrested.”
When asked about who proposed that, Mendoza refused to answer.
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“It was not one of the teams that I formally interviewed with, so I don’t wanna exposed the team,” Mendoza added.
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."
🎤: @AKinkhabwala pic.twitter.com/33RaeHkaPT
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 27, 2026
The NFL has seen multiple players slide after a rocky pre-draft process. The most recent and dramatic case happened last year when Shedeur Sanders went from being considered a top-20 pick to ending up getting drafted in the fifth round.
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Fernando Mendoza had the perfect season with the Indiana Hoosiers
Fernando Mendoza
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) races after the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
After two seasons with the California Golden Bears, Fernando Mendoza transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers ahead of the 2025 campaign. He ended up leading the squad to a 16-0 record and the national championship.
Mendoza went 273 of 379 for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, winning the Heisman Award thanks to his impressive campaign. Projections put him on the Las Vegas Raiders, and unless he gets arrested or something equally extraordinary happens, nothing will change that.
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