An NFL analyst had a comparison for Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, who seems set to be the new QB of the Las Vegas Raiders.
We might as well lock it in right now: The Las Vegas Raiders appear set to use the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The draft is less than two weeks away, and barring a massive surprise, Mendoza is headed to Las Vegas as the QB of the future in Sin City.
There have been no signs whatsoever that the Raiders are even thinking of passing on Mendoza, and no signs of any sort of trade taking place with Las Vegas regarding this pick.
Mendoza began his career with the California Golden Bears before playing his final season at Indiana, winning a national title and a Heisman Trophy in an undefeated season that will live forever in history.
So, can Mendoza make the jump to the NFL and live up to the hype? NFL analyst Mike Tannenbaum had a comparison for Mendoza in a piece by ESPN.
And, he compared Mendoza to four-time Pro Bowler and longtime Atlanta Falcons staple Matt Ryan.
"I see Mendoza very much in the same light as when Ryan came out from Boston College in 2008. Mendoza is a better athlete than given credit for (see: touchdown run in the CFP title game), and like Ryan, he does an excellent job with his footwork in the pocket. They also have similar builds and arm strength," Tannenbaum said.
Ryan played 15 seasons in the NFL and started 234 regular-season games while throwing for over 62,000 yards with 381 touchdown passes.
Ryan played in one Super Bowl, although it was the infamous 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots in one of the most stunning collapses in sports history.
The biggest difference between Ryan and Mendoza is the latter's ability to run the football, and that was evident during the College Football Playoff run.
Colin Cowherd even called Mendoza a "bigger, stronger, more athletic version" of Ryan.
While Ryan never won a Super Bowl (he got close!), he played a long time in the NFL and was efficient.
So, if Mendoza can even be nearly as good as Ryan in the long term, it will be a successful career for the Indiana star.
For the Raiders, they missed on JaMarcus Russell, although not many saw that coming after the way he played at LSU.
The hope in Las Vegas is that Mendoza doesn't become a Ryan Leaf or JaMarcuss Russell, and if he can have a Matt Ryan career, the Raiders would be more than happy with that after the way things have gone at the QB position lately.