Mendoza Shines at Pro Day; Raiders Consider Mentor
PUBLISHED Mar 31, 2026, 5:29 PM ET
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Bloomington, Ind. — On Wednesday Fernando Mendoza completed 53 of 56 passes at Indiana's pro day as all 32 NFL teams observed; the Heisman winner's workout was televised by the NFL Network and attended by Raiders general manager John Spytek and coach Klint Kubiak. The Raiders' presence and Mendoza’s near-perfect performance reinforced his projection as the likely No. 1 overall pick this month; coach Klint Kubiak said at league meetings Tuesday that the organization would prefer a veteran mentor for a rookie, and discussions over roster planning continue.
By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- Indiana completes a 16-0 season with Mendoza as the starting quarterback.
- Las Vegas secures the No. 1 overall pick in January.
- Raiders staff discuss rookie development at league meetings on Tuesday.
- Indiana holds pro day Wednesday; all 32 NFL teams attend and NFL Network televises.
- Mendoza completes 53 of 56 passes; Raiders evaluate mentorship and draft strategy.
News Intelligence
- If you're a Raiders fan, this is big. Mendoza's stellar performance could mean a stronger team. And a veteran mentor? That's a smart move for rookie development. Keep an eye on the draft this month.
- Articles Published:
- 8
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 1
- Neutral:
- 7
- Distribution:
- Left 13%, Center 88%, Right 0%
The Las Vegas Raiders benefited by evaluating Fernando Mendoza in-person and refining roster planning, including consideration of adding a veteran mentor.
Other teams and draft followers had limited exclusive access to Mendoza given the heavy Raiders presence and media focus at the pro day.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
Fernando Mendoza did his pro day his way -- the Raiders captured it all on camera
The New York TimesFrom Center
Mendoza Shines at Pro Day; Raiders Consider Mentor
Las Vegas Review-Journal Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette The News-Gazette Las Vegas Review-Journal New York Post CBS Sports Las Vegas Review-JournalFrom Right
No right-leaning sources found for this story.
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