Fernando Mendoza compared to Hall of Fame icon and labeled &#8216;guaranteed star&#8217; by NFL draft insider

Feb 20, 2026 - 11:15

Fernando Mendoza was once a forgotten two-star recruit who couldn’t get a walk on offer from his hometown school.

But now, the Indiana Hoosiers quarterback is a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion, and the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft.

Fernando Mendoza had a perfect college football season

Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and just six interceptions, while also rushing for 276 yards and seven more scores last season.

After transferring from California, he guided Indiana to its first undefeated season in program history, defeating the Miami Hurricanes in the championship game.

The Las Vegas Raiders own the first overall pick, after finishing 3-14 and missing the playoffs for the fourth-consecutive year.

New head coach Klink Kubiak, fresh off a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, is holding his draft strategy close to his chest, but the stars are aligning for Las Vegas to draft their franchise QB.

Mendoza handed huge draft stock boost by NFL draft insider

During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Kiper explained why Mendoza is guaranteed to be a superstar quarterback in the NFL.

“For me, Mendoza checks every box, there is no question about that. In any draft, I don’t care which one you talk about, he will be right up there.

“To say that this guy is not worthy of being the number one pick is ridiculous, it’s nonsense.

“To say he is not the best player in the draft, I don’t know who is better.

“You are getting a guaranteed star at the quarterback position which is the most important position in any sport in the world.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers dives for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) — Kiper has said that Mendoza is ‘guaranteed to be a star’

Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium — Mendoza is the projected top pick, and is expected to land with the Raiders

Kiper Jr. compares Mendoza to Peyton Manning, says Raiders are getting lucky

The 2026 draft is one of the most anticipated in recent memory, and most of the chatter is around the 225-pound quarterback.

Danny Parkins compared him to Lions QB Jared Goff, who has led two different franchises to conference championship games and started a Super Bowl.

“The Raiders need to think about how lucky they are, sometimes you get that pick, and there is no quarterback,” Kiper added.

“He reminds me a lot when you look back and think about Peyton Manning, how he studied.

“He always said ‘I love trying to crack the code’, and that was a Fernando Mendoza comment from back during the season, and he did it.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 04: Las Vegas Raiders fans Ezra Kheel (L) and his brother Alexandros Kheel of Nevada hold up a sign referencing Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy recipient, in the second quarter of the Raiders’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on January 04, 2026 in […] — Raiders fans have made it clear who they want under center in 2026

“Everybody says he doesn’t have elite traits, well you don’t need elite traits to be the greatest of all time, Tom Brady didn’t have anywhere near elite traits.

“They are getting lucky, as the Colts did with Peyton Manning, remember they ended up with Andrew Luck another year.

“At the end of the day, having the number one pick, desperatley needing a quarterback, Raiders nation, be happy.”

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