As the College Football Playoff enters its second week, all eyes are on number 1 seed Indiana as they prepare to face 9 seed Alabama. Much of the focus is on Indiana’s quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. Depending on how Indiana performs, Mendoza could soon decide whether to enter the NFL Draft or return to college football for another year.
Mendoza had an outstanding 2025 season with Indiana. He earned major awards including the Heisman Trophy, AP Player of the Year, and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year. He led the country with 33 passing touchdowns and threw for nearly 3,000 yards with a 71.5% completion rate. On the ground, he added six rushing touchdowns, setting a school record with 39 total touchdowns this season. His impressive performance has made him one of the top prospects to watch for the NFL.
Before transferring to Indiana in 2024 to join his brother, Mendoza made a name for himself in California. In 2024, he was named ACC Quarterback of the Week twice and set school records for passing attempts. During his redshirt freshman season in 2023, he took over as starter for the last eight games, throwing for over 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns. Overall, Mendoza has thrown for nearly 7,700 yards and more than 49 touchdowns in his college career, along with over 10 rushing touchdowns. He played a key role in leading Indiana to a Big Ten Championship and a College Football Playoff berth, boosting his status as a highly sought NFL prospect.
With the NFL Draft approaching, the question is: which teams might be interested in drafting Mendoza?
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders hold the first overall pick in the draft. They could be looking for a new quarterback after Geno Smith’s poor performance this season. Although Smith earned a big contract extension after a strong year in 2024, he has struggled this season, throwing 15 interceptions which is tied for the most in the league. This might lead the Raiders to consider Mendoza as their new franchise quarterback.
New York Jets
The Jets have the 4th pick in the draft and may also be searching for a quarterback. They benched Justin Fields twice this season after a rough start, going 2-8 and posting a low QBR of 37.3. Fields threw just 505 yards over his last five starts before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. Feeling frustrated over his benching, Fields might consider leaving the Jets despite signing a two-year, $40 million contract last offseason.
Arizona Cardinals
Picking 5th, the Cardinals could be moving on from Kyler Murray, who suffered a foot injury in Week 5. Head coach Jonathan Gannon’s vague answers about Murray’s future suggest uncertainty about whether Murray will return in 2026. With Mendoza being a top quarterback prospect, Arizona may try to draft him or possibly Ty Simpson if he is still available, depending on the Raiders’ and Jets’ choices.
Miami Dolphins
Miami holds the 9th pick and may also seek a new quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa, now in his sixth NFL season, has only made the playoffs once and has a 0-1 record there. His playoff performance included 199 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, but the Dolphins scored just seven points in that loss. Tagovailoa is tied for most interceptions thrown this season with 15, and the team has indicated they may move on from him. Miami could use their current pick or trade up to draft Mendoza if the opportunity arises.
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