Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, the projected top pick for the Las Vegas Raiders, is not going to be attending the NFL Draft.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and all signs continue to point to Indiana Hoosiers quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza being the first choice.
There isn't much debate, either, and essentially every single mock draft since January has had Mendoza going to the Raiders first overall.
Mendoza's Pro Day went well, and he is taking a visit with the Raiders in what is his only scheduled visit, which makes it fairly certain he will wear the silver and black at Allegiant Stadium for the foreseeable future.
The NFL Draft begins on April 23 in Pittsburgh, but a surprising decision came out regarding Mendoza, via Adam Schefter of ESPN.
"Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he is not planning to attend the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh this month, per sources. Mendoza wants to share the draft experience with his family in Miami," Schefter wrote.
The top pick not attending the NFL Draft in person is not that common, and the last player to do so was Clemson star Trevor Lawrence, who went first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.
The lights and glamor of the NFL Draft are a fun event for fans and players, but Mendoza apparently wants to stay in Miami and soak in the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with his family.
Mendoza began his career playing at California in Berkeley, and he transferred to Indiana for his final season, leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated year and a national title win over the Miami Hurricanes, oddly enough, with the game being played right near where he grew up in Florida.
Mendoza is far and away the best signal-caller in this draft class, regardless of what people such as Dan Orlovsky have been saying as of late.
The Raiders have been anxiously searching for a franchise quarterback since the Derek Carr era ended, and the Geno Smith experiment failed in a big way as they shipped him off to the New York Jets after just one season in town.
Mendoza feels like the safest pick in a long time, and the most obvious choice as well, given the Raiders' need for a QB and his low-profile and humble attitude.
So, fans expecting to see Mendoza walking down the red carpet and shaking Roger Goodell's hand at the NFL Draft might want to put those hopes to bed. He will be in Miami.