Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza may have cemented his place atop the NFL Draft board with a big College Football Playoff performance against Alabama, but there could still be one quarterback standing in his way.
Mendoza has been considered the top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft, earning more strong reviews after dismantling Alabama’s defense in Thursday’s win to advance to the College Football Playoff semifinal. But one NFL insider believes there could be another top quarterback standing in his way — depending on what he decides for next season.
Fernando Mendoza Could Fall to No. 2 Depending on Oregon Decision
While many NFL pundits believe that Mendoza will be headed to the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer believes there could still be one strong contender — Oregon’s Dante Moore.
Breer noted that Moore could end up going No. 1 overall, though Oregon is expected to make an expensive bid to keep him for another year.
“I’m not 100% convinced it’ll be Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza,” Breer wrote.
“I will say it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he is, and he seems like a great kid, and one you can bet on,” Breer added. “I’m just not sure, at this early juncture, whether he’ll go ahead of Oregon’s Dante Moore (should Moore turn down whatever Phil Knight’s offering him to stay in Eugene).”
Fernando Mendoza Still Seen as Top Pick By Many
Breer may be going against the grain when it comes to Mendoza’s draft status. USA Today’s Ayrton Ostly surveyed four of the top NFL mock drafts, all of which put Mendoza in the No. 1 spot to the Raiders.
Pro Football Focus called Mendoza the cornerstone to a rebuilding Raiders team.
“Las Vegas resets at the quarterback position by selecting Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza,” the outlet predicted. “The 22-year-old enters the College Football Playoff quarterfinals with an 88.2 PFF passing grade, seventh best in the FBS, alongside 21 big-time throws compared to just nine turnover-worthy plays. That level of ball security will be welcomed, considering the Raidersâ current quarterback, Geno Smith, leads the NFL in interceptions.”
AtoZ Sports suggested that Mendoza could arrive in Las Vegas along with an entirely new coaching staff — and without a veteran quarterback to serve as a steady hand and mentor.
“It sounds like itâs going to be a complete house cleaning in Vegas, and that means no Pete Carroll or Geno Smith back in town for next season,” the outlet noted. “They were completely outclassed by the Giants, a concerning fact for the near future of this team, but landing a franchise quarterback gets you a lot closer in a rebuild than anything else.”
There is still plenty of time between the end of the College Football Playoff and the NFL Draft, and Mendoza’s stock could rise or fall based on his performance at the combine — should he choose to participate. He also has at least one more game in his college football career, with Indiana advancing to face Oregon in the Peach Bowl.
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