Renner’s QB scouting sequence for 2026 NFL Draft: Why Fernando Mendoza is among the most secure bets to go Spherical 1

There are a myriad of explanation why a quarterback could also be profitable in school but not the NFL. Over the previous couple of a long time, the primary spherical has been plagued by gamers who could not hack it within the league for one cause or one other. If I needed to boil down the distinction between taking part in quarterback in school vs. the NFL that results in probably the most downfalls, it must be the velocity of the respective video games.

Whereas saying “velocity of the sport” is a typical chorus from analysts, it is at all times conjured up pictures in my head of defenders simply operating sooner. Whereas that is clearly a part of it, it is the downstream results on the quarterback place that I am extra referring to once I use the phrase. 

Within the NFL, pass-rushers get residence sooner, receivers separate much less and holes in zones shut faster. Due to that, passing video games are constructed to create temporary home windows in a development that open and shut inside break up seconds. Your eyes might be going to the correct locations, but when they’re on the fallacious instances it will not matter.

That is all to say that when a quarterback already performs at NFL velocity, it is a strong indicator for achievement on the subsequent degree. And no quarterback amongst the highest prospects was compelled to play sooner than Fernando Mendoza. 

Whereas he transferred to Indiana this spring, Mendoza was the starter at Cal the previous 12 months and a half — a faculty that hasn’t had an offensive participant drafted since 2017. Whereas his tight finish Jack Endries (who transferred to Texas) will get drafted, that is the place it ends for receivers and offensive linemen. 

Mendoza was combating an uphill battle simply to remain alive most video games, but he went above and past on a constant foundation. He completed with 270-plus passing yards in eight of his remaining 9 video games final 12 months, throwing for simply over 3,000 yards and averaging 7.7 yards per try on the season.

From a bodily perspective, Mendoza seems like a little bit of a throwback. He is an enormous boy at 6-foot-5 and 225 kilos with lengthy arms that may actually whip it. He does his finest work from the pocket, however is greater than snug throwing on rollouts as effectively. I say throwback as a result of Mendoza would not have the elusiveness or nimble ft which have typified the elite on the place at present. Though for those who give him a crease, he is not gradual by any means.

Whereas there’s many unlucky externalities with the switch portal, gamers like Mendoza are the largest beneficiaries of the brand new guidelines. Not just for the sake of his well being given the go safety he had, but additionally for the extent of competitors he now will get to face with a extra equal footing for his draft prospects.

Daniel Jones at Duke and Brock Purdy at Iowa State are each good current examples of the pitfalls inherent in evaluating quarterbacks in brutal conditions. Each have been working with receiving corps and offensive strains that put them at a drawback most video games. So, evaluators could not fairly get a really feel for the way both’s play type would change when there was really peace of thoughts within the pocket and receivers they might depend on. Purdy acquired that within the NFL and thrived, whereas Jones by no means was capable of elevate his recreation when he lastly had items round him.

If I needed to guess proper now with Mendoza, I am guessing he is nearer to Purdy’s consequence than Jones’. The largest cause for that perception? He is aggressive. He clearly wasn’t going to have the downfield manufacturing of others on this class, however he took probabilities when he might. Even when the stress got here in waves, Mendoza refused to crawl into his shell. Within the recreation throughout which he was pressured (19) and sacked (seven) probably the most instances final season in opposition to Florida State, Mendoza nonetheless averaged a wholesome 10.8 yard common depth of goal and threw for 303 passing yards. A number of the strikes he had over the course of the season with defenders bearing down on him have been jaw-dropping.

So rank him wherever you need at this level; it is all leisure in any case. However for those who ask me to select one quarterback on this class I do know will be capable of deal with the trials of the velocity of the NFL, one quarterback who can play behind a porous offensive line, I am going Mendoza with no second thought. 

That provides him a excessive flooring. And in a category filled with tools-y tasks, Mendoza is among the most secure bets to finish up as a first-rounder subsequent spring. 

Fernando Mendoza NFL Draft profile

NFL comparability: Carson Palmer

Like Palmer, Mendoza has an excellent body with an NFL-caliber arm and a few actual velocity. Additionally like Palmer, you may by no means confuse Mendoza for a operating quarterback. He thrives on fast processing and constant accuracy on the beneath and intermediate ranges of the sphere.

Accolades

• Profession: First participant in LSU historical past to return as beginning QB after having 4,000 yards passing the earlier season
• Profession: Two-time bowl recreation MVP (ReliaQuest Bowl in 2023 and Texas Bowl in 2024)
• 2024: Best first-year QB in LSU historical past in a number of statistical classes
• 2024: 4,052 passing yards rank No. 2 in program historical past
• 2024: 337 completions led SEC and ranked fourth in FBS
• 2024: 29 passing touchdowns tied for second in SEC and ranked tenth in FBS 

Strengths

• Fast decision-maker
• Is aware of the place to overlook when throwing into tight home windows
• Keen to ship strikes underneath heavy stress
• Constantly plus ball placement

Weaknesses

• Can run, however not an evasive athlete
• Pocket consciousness comes and goes. Will miss defenders
• Anticipation exhibits primarily on pre-snap decided routes

Fernando Mendoza school stats

Fernando Mendoza 247Sports profile

Highschool: Marcus (Columbus, Miami)
Class: 2022
Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (82)

Try Fernando Mendoza’s full 247Sports profile, right here.