For Fernando Mendoza, the projected No. 1 pick in the draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, the NFL combine is all about talk.
After leading the Indiana Hoosiers to the national championship last season, the 22-year-old doesn’t need to showcase his skills at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. He’ll do that during his pro day to give his teammates some shine.
For now, all he needs to do is say the right things — on the podium in front of the media, and behind closed doors with the front offices of teams.
Mendoza joked on Friday that he’s unemployed and in the midst of “the most important job interview of (his) life.”
But your average interview isn’t usually surrounded by talking heads also talking about you on national television and radio.
And in Mendoza’s case, most of those conversations were centered on whether or not he’s worthy of the No. 1 pick once April 23 rolls around.
ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed that Mendoza is almost guaranteed to be Raiders’ the pick, noting that Ty Simpson out of Alabama is expected to be the second quarterback selected and will throw at the combine Saturday.
Schefter emphasized that Mendoza’s Wednesday meeting with the Raiders went long because of how much the team enjoyed him and the fact that “there were no other meetings scheduled.”
But after ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky watched half of Mendoza’s tape from the season, he claimed not to be impressed.
“Through eight games, you see good, but there’s a lot underwhelming,” Orlovsky said on “First Take” on Thursday. “There’s not a ton of big-time throws. There’s a lot of clean pockets. There’s a ton of RPOs and back-shoulder fades. There’s moments where you see he’s spooked with his feet and becomes a runner unnecessarily.
“I think through eight games, Ty Simpson’s tape at Alabama is significantly more impressive than Fernando Mendoza’s.”
‘Generational’
Orlovsky’s skeptical assertions on Mendoza started a spirited national discourse regarding his talent spearheaded by his ESPN peers.
Pat McAfee made a passionate endorsement of Mendoza on Friday during a live show at the combine and then featured a trio of guests who supported his points.
“I think Fernando Mendoza is generational,” said McAfee, a former NFL punter. “Six-foot-five, has beers with the boys, super smart, wildly intelligent, accurate, and he’s tough. … I think the people that are on TV talking about him maybe not being the guy. … (It’s) just because they were late to the party with Mendoza, and they don’t want to state that.”
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah used a driving analogy to explain that Mendoza’s play improved with the competition as Indiana got him acclimated.
“When we were all learning how to drive, they don’t just throw you on the freeway,” he said. “For the first part of the season, Indiana was like, ‘We’re just gonna drive around the parking lot at school, then we’ll go out in the neighborhoods.’ Then came the big dogs on the schedule, (and they tasked Mendoza) to open this thing up make big throws. And he did that.”
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia told McAfee that he was impressed with Mendoza during the Manning Passing Academy.
“I remember spending time with him. And just loved his energy. But really, how smart he is,” Patricia said, adding that Mendoza was like The Terminator through multiple attempted hard hits to take him out during the camp. “He’s (also) tall and can stand in the pocket. A lot of guys can’t see over the offensive linemen.”
Separately, ESPN’s Mel Kiper added there’s nothing Mendoza could’ve done differently to make his case.
“(He) went from 41 sacks at Cal in 2024, drop that number down dramatically in the regular season to 17 or 18,” Kiper said. “What he need to improve on, he did. … He made the right decisions late in plays time and time again. … Realistically, in this draft, Fernando Mendoza, I think, is the best player. And certainly he’s distanced himself from every other quarterback, including Ty Simpson.”
If nothing else, ESPN’s Peter Schrager noted that Mendoza has star quality like no other.
“Twelve months ago, I don’t know if we would’ve even thought that Fernando Mendoza would be at the combine, let alone being the No. 1 pick in the draft,” Schrager said. “Last night, I wasn’t there, but people were at St. Elmo Steak House, the big spot in town. Apparently, everyone who works on the staff stopped, put down their plates and put down their jobs and their server trays, and everyone gave him a standing ovation as he walked in as the Indiana legend.”
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Callie\_\_Fin on X.