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(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders are projected to take former Indiana Hoosiers QB, Fernando Mendoza, with the No. 1 overall pick.
Mendoza threw on April 1 for his pro day with Las Vegas leadership watching; it was another opportunity to show that he’s the top guy in this year’s draft and a player the team can build around.
With the draft now at the end of April, the Raiders have a decision to make: Whether to select Mendoza, which many expect they will. As a result, FS1 host Colin Cowherd shared his lofty expectations for Mendoza involving former Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning.
“Folks, you were looking at Peyton Manning,” Cowherd said when talking about Mendoza’s pro day on the April 2 edition of “The Herd.” “Peyton Manning was big, smart, self‑aware, and understood the NFL game.
“Leadership is not cool. It’s not cool. Leadership is hard. First in the building, first out. You probably shouldn’t drink alcohol during the season. Absolutely no parties. I’m sorry, that’s leadership. That, that’s leadership.”
Mendoza posted an 87.9 overall PFF grade during the 2025 season for the Indiana Hoosiers, ranking 30th among 302 qualified quarterbacks. His 83.7 passing grade placed him 35th at the position.
Over 336 dropbacks, he threw for 2,758 yards with 32 touchdowns and five interceptions. Furthermore, he recorded 16 big-time throws and nine turnover-worthy plays.
Fernando Mendoza Reacts to His Pro Day Performance
Following his pro day, Mendoza spoke with the media and shared his thoughts on how he did with the Raiders and other NFL teams watching him up close.
“I’m just trying to be the best quarterback come September, so today was cool,“ Mendoza said (h/t Anthony Calhoun of WISH-TV). “There were a little bit of nerves right before, but those nerves mean I’m ready. Those nerves turn into energy for the workout and to be a better quarterback. In that sense, there were nerves, but for me it wasn’t very high stakes. I was just having fun with the guys.”
Raiders Get Promising Take From NFL Analyst
After Mendoza’s pro day wrapped up, ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick shared what he saw from the draft prospect which is an encouraging message for any Raiders fan.
“It’s really his presence,“ Riddick said on the April 1 edition of “NFL Live.” “He comes off, and a lot of it is the unspoken, intangible part of the evaluation that you get and that really jumps out at you when you are around this young man.
“We can talk about how smooth he looked working from a simulated under‑center snap, what his footwork looked like, and how consistently on balance he appeared, how tight the spiral was during his warm‑ups, and for the majority of his workout.
“We can talk about all of that, but it’s the way he commanded himself from the time he walked out on the field until the time he came over here, sat down, and answered the questions that he answered. It just kind of oozed franchise-caliber quarterback type of stuff. And that’s an important part of what he’s going to be asked to do, which is to really take charge.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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