mbBear said:

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BearlyCareAnymore said:

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mbBear said:

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ac_green33 said:

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mbBear said:

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GMP said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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GMP said:

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75bear said:

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BearGoggles said:

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I don't know how you can judge any QBs potential behind an OL as bad as Cal's last year. Mendoza has the ability to deliver the ball under pressure (keeps his eyes down field) and plenty of arm strength. He seems to read the field pretty well.

He didn't show enough to be a first round pick, but I wouldn't be shocked if he develops into one. Cignetti is a very good coach of qbs.

---

The NFL had no problem judging Jared Goff behind a bad Cal OL.

---

Yeah, I actually have a theory about college QBs. If they play well with a bad OL and receivers who are not always wide open, they can play in the NFL (e.g. Goff). If they have all day to throw and are playing catch with wide open receivers, you really have no idea (e.g. Leinart).

If I was an NFL GM, I would be very reluctant to draft a QB from a blue blood.

---

That's like saying if I was a hiring manager, I would rather pick someone from San Jose State than Stanford, because they have the grit and chip on their shoulder and didn't get coddled on their way to a degree.

There will always be outliers like Goff or Josh Allen, but by and large blue blood QBs are a proven quantity to have even gotten the starting job at a top school in the first place.

---

It's not the same thing at all.

---

I think the best GM's are the ones that are constantly reinventing their thinking, and/or are using the incredible resources they have to make every judgment a case by case situation. If it sounds like I just described the more recent version of Howie Roseman of the Eagles (meaning post Chip Kelly with the Eagles), that's no coincidence.
And because I am not an NFL GM, I would say I have the reverse prejudice of what you posted (which, by the way, I thought was interesting, and made sense): I would be hesitant of not drafting the Blue Blood QB, because they haven't been through all the same off the field X factors...my case study is Carson Wentz, and that Josh Allen is the exception....

---

Lol you just picked one bad and not particularly representative example after saying he chose an exception to the rule.

The NFL has starting (and some in competitions) QBs from:

• Louisville x2
• Wyoming
• Delaware/Pittsburgh
• Duke
• Texas Tech
• West Virginia
• UNC
• Oklahoma St
• Iowa St
• Miss St
• BYU
• Incarnate Word/Wazzu/Miami
• Cal

close to half the NFL starting QBs are from non "blue bloods"

---

Probably should have been clearer about what I was thinking about:...I'm thinking more of P4 not just "traditional powerhouses," sorry about that.
Yes, even Cal/Goff and that "big time" experience, on and off the field, makes a difference, my 2 cents.
But again, like I said, having some bias going in is proof that I am not an NFL GM....

---

I think you guys are missing GMP's point. It isn't small school vs. big school or blue bloods vs. losing programs. Matt Leinart was his example. He had a dominating offensive line and pretty much all-american level players up and down the offense. He might have been the 11th best player in his offense. He was a solid QB, but all he needed to do was within about 10 seconds of the snap select one of 5 great playmakers to get the ball to with no pressure whatsoever and let that guy make a bunch of yards. Frankly, it was quite obvious when he and Rodgers were on the same field that Rodgers was making plays and Leinart was getting the ball to others to make plays. Very good college QB, but not a pro.

For a small school example, the guy who maybe had the best college career ever is Willie Totten. He threw for 5000 yards in a season when no one had ever done that. He held well over a dozen national records. He led the nation in passing efficiency twice. He was a very good QB who also happened to be throwing to the greatest WR of all time who was running routes against the likes of Prairie View A&M.

The same thing was consistently true back in the day with Nebraska and Oklahoma RB's. They both had offensive lines that were completely dominant over their competition and just basically put a fast guy behind them and let them run.

Both the 49ers and the Raiders had eras where they massively got over other teams on the trade market because 90% of their team was so good it made the crappy 10% look good. They knew who the 10% were and could trade them at an inflated value.

Point is that in a team sport, success on the field can be an illusion when judging an individual and you need to adjust for someone like Leinart - who had it easy his whole career - and Goff who out of necessity had to learn to make his reads lightning fast and get the ball out. It's not a universal rule, but it is something to watch for. If nothing else, you knew that Goff could adjust to the quicker game in the NFL, and you didn't know that for Leinart.

---

An interesting point now is a guy like Totten would get NIL money after 2 years, and have the chance on the bigger stage.
Figuring out the "illusion" and "adjusting for someone like Leinart" is why the best GMs aren't necessarily those on fan message boards, no matter what they claim to be...

---

Weird choice to make that point with Leinart, who was drafted high and was a total bust. Meanwhile, 24 year old me knew he was going to be a bust and probably said so ad nauseum on this very message board (or, more accurately, on a predecessor to this very message board).

Who would have a made a better GM - the Cardinals GM or me? Idk, but I certainly wouldn't have made the Leinart mistake.

GMP said:

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mbBear said:

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BearlyCareAnymore said:

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mbBear said:

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ac_green33 said:

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mbBear said:

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GMP said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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GMP said:

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75bear said:

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BearGoggles said:

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I don't know how you can judge any QBs potential behind an OL as bad as Cal's last year. Mendoza has the ability to deliver the ball under pressure (keeps his eyes down field) and plenty of arm strength. He seems to read the field pretty well.

He didn't show enough to be a first round pick, but I wouldn't be shocked if he develops into one. Cignetti is a very good coach of qbs.

---

The NFL had no problem judging Jared Goff behind a bad Cal OL.

---

Yeah, I actually have a theory about college QBs. If they play well with a bad OL and receivers who are not always wide open, they can play in the NFL (e.g. Goff). If they have all day to throw and are playing catch with wide open receivers, you really have no idea (e.g. Leinart).

If I was an NFL GM, I would be very reluctant to draft a QB from a blue blood.

---

That's like saying if I was a hiring manager, I would rather pick someone from San Jose State than Stanford, because they have the grit and chip on their shoulder and didn't get coddled on their way to a degree.

There will always be outliers like Goff or Josh Allen, but by and large blue blood QBs are a proven quantity to have even gotten the starting job at a top school in the first place.

---

It's not the same thing at all.

---

I think the best GM's are the ones that are constantly reinventing their thinking, and/or are using the incredible resources they have to make every judgment a case by case situation. If it sounds like I just described the more recent version of Howie Roseman of the Eagles (meaning post Chip Kelly with the Eagles), that's no coincidence.
And because I am not an NFL GM, I would say I have the reverse prejudice of what you posted (which, by the way, I thought was interesting, and made sense): I would be hesitant of not drafting the Blue Blood QB, because they haven't been through all the same off the field X factors...my case study is Carson Wentz, and that Josh Allen is the exception....

---

Lol you just picked one bad and not particularly representative example after saying he chose an exception to the rule.

The NFL has starting (and some in competitions) QBs from:

• Louisville x2
• Wyoming
• Delaware/Pittsburgh
• Duke
• Texas Tech
• West Virginia
• UNC
• Oklahoma St
• Iowa St
• Miss St
• BYU
• Incarnate Word/Wazzu/Miami
• Cal

close to half the NFL starting QBs are from non "blue bloods"

---

Probably should have been clearer about what I was thinking about:...I'm thinking more of P4 not just "traditional powerhouses," sorry about that.
Yes, even Cal/Goff and that "big time" experience, on and off the field, makes a difference, my 2 cents.
But again, like I said, having some bias going in is proof that I am not an NFL GM....

---

I think you guys are missing GMP's point. It isn't small school vs. big school or blue bloods vs. losing programs. Matt Leinart was his example. He had a dominating offensive line and pretty much all-american level players up and down the offense. He might have been the 11th best player in his offense. He was a solid QB, but all he needed to do was within about 10 seconds of the snap select one of 5 great playmakers to get the ball to with no pressure whatsoever and let that guy make a bunch of yards. Frankly, it was quite obvious when he and Rodgers were on the same field that Rodgers was making plays and Leinart was getting the ball to others to make plays. Very good college QB, but not a pro.

For a small school example, the guy who maybe had the best college career ever is Willie Totten. He threw for 5000 yards in a season when no one had ever done that. He held well over a dozen national records. He led the nation in passing efficiency twice. He was a very good QB who also happened to be throwing to the greatest WR of all time who was running routes against the likes of Prairie View A&M.

The same thing was consistently true back in the day with Nebraska and Oklahoma RB's. They both had offensive lines that were completely dominant over their competition and just basically put a fast guy behind them and let them run.

Both the 49ers and the Raiders had eras where they massively got over other teams on the trade market because 90% of their team was so good it made the crappy 10% look good. They knew who the 10% were and could trade them at an inflated value.

Point is that in a team sport, success on the field can be an illusion when judging an individual and you need to adjust for someone like Leinart - who had it easy his whole career - and Goff who out of necessity had to learn to make his reads lightning fast and get the ball out. It's not a universal rule, but it is something to watch for. If nothing else, you knew that Goff could adjust to the quicker game in the NFL, and you didn't know that for Leinart.

---

An interesting point now is a guy like Totten would get NIL money after 2 years, and have the chance on the bigger stage.
Figuring out the "illusion" and "adjusting for someone like Leinart" is why the best GMs aren't necessarily those on fan message boards, no matter what they claim to be...

---

Weird choice to make that point with Leinart, who was drafted high and was a total bust. Meanwhile, 24 year old me knew he was going to be a bust and probably said so ad nauseum on this very message board (or, more accurately, on a predecessor to this very message board).

Who would have a made a better GM - the Cardinals GM or me? Idk, but I certainly wouldn't have made the Leinart mistake.

---

By the way: after seeing HS interviews with Leinart, a TV career was as likely as a HOF NFL career....not that I think he is all that good now, but....

mbBear said:

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GMP said:

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mbBear said:

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BearlyCareAnymore said:

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mbBear said:

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ac_green33 said:

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mbBear said:

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GMP said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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GMP said:

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75bear said:

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BearGoggles said:

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I don't know how you can judge any QBs potential behind an OL as bad as Cal's last year. Mendoza has the ability to deliver the ball under pressure (keeps his eyes down field) and plenty of arm strength. He seems to read the field pretty well.

He didn't show enough to be a first round pick, but I wouldn't be shocked if he develops into one. Cignetti is a very good coach of qbs.

---

The NFL had no problem judging Jared Goff behind a bad Cal OL.

---

Yeah, I actually have a theory about college QBs. If they play well with a bad OL and receivers who are not always wide open, they can play in the NFL (e.g. Goff). If they have all day to throw and are playing catch with wide open receivers, you really have no idea (e.g. Leinart).

If I was an NFL GM, I would be very reluctant to draft a QB from a blue blood.

---

That's like saying if I was a hiring manager, I would rather pick someone from San Jose State than Stanford, because they have the grit and chip on their shoulder and didn't get coddled on their way to a degree.

There will always be outliers like Goff or Josh Allen, but by and large blue blood QBs are a proven quantity to have even gotten the starting job at a top school in the first place.

---

It's not the same thing at all.

---

I think the best GM's are the ones that are constantly reinventing their thinking, and/or are using the incredible resources they have to make every judgment a case by case situation. If it sounds like I just described the more recent version of Howie Roseman of the Eagles (meaning post Chip Kelly with the Eagles), that's no coincidence.
And because I am not an NFL GM, I would say I have the reverse prejudice of what you posted (which, by the way, I thought was interesting, and made sense): I would be hesitant of not drafting the Blue Blood QB, because they haven't been through all the same off the field X factors...my case study is Carson Wentz, and that Josh Allen is the exception....

---

Lol you just picked one bad and not particularly representative example after saying he chose an exception to the rule.

The NFL has starting (and some in competitions) QBs from:

• Louisville x2
• Wyoming
• Delaware/Pittsburgh
• Duke
• Texas Tech
• West Virginia
• UNC
• Oklahoma St
• Iowa St
• Miss St
• BYU
• Incarnate Word/Wazzu/Miami
• Cal

close to half the NFL starting QBs are from non "blue bloods"

---

Probably should have been clearer about what I was thinking about:...I'm thinking more of P4 not just "traditional powerhouses," sorry about that.
Yes, even Cal/Goff and that "big time" experience, on and off the field, makes a difference, my 2 cents.
But again, like I said, having some bias going in is proof that I am not an NFL GM....

---

I think you guys are missing GMP's point. It isn't small school vs. big school or blue bloods vs. losing programs. Matt Leinart was his example. He had a dominating offensive line and pretty much all-american level players up and down the offense. He might have been the 11th best player in his offense. He was a solid QB, but all he needed to do was within about 10 seconds of the snap select one of 5 great playmakers to get the ball to with no pressure whatsoever and let that guy make a bunch of yards. Frankly, it was quite obvious when he and Rodgers were on the same field that Rodgers was making plays and Leinart was getting the ball to others to make plays. Very good college QB, but not a pro.

For a small school example, the guy who maybe had the best college career ever is Willie Totten. He threw for 5000 yards in a season when no one had ever done that. He held well over a dozen national records. He led the nation in passing efficiency twice. He was a very good QB who also happened to be throwing to the greatest WR of all time who was running routes against the likes of Prairie View A&M.

The same thing was consistently true back in the day with Nebraska and Oklahoma RB's. They both had offensive lines that were completely dominant over their competition and just basically put a fast guy behind them and let them run.

Both the 49ers and the Raiders had eras where they massively got over other teams on the trade market because 90% of their team was so good it made the crappy 10% look good. They knew who the 10% were and could trade them at an inflated value.

Point is that in a team sport, success on the field can be an illusion when judging an individual and you need to adjust for someone like Leinart - who had it easy his whole career - and Goff who out of necessity had to learn to make his reads lightning fast and get the ball out. It's not a universal rule, but it is something to watch for. If nothing else, you knew that Goff could adjust to the quicker game in the NFL, and you didn't know that for Leinart.

---

An interesting point now is a guy like Totten would get NIL money after 2 years, and have the chance on the bigger stage.
Figuring out the "illusion" and "adjusting for someone like Leinart" is why the best GMs aren't necessarily those on fan message boards, no matter what they claim to be...

---

Weird choice to make that point with Leinart, who was drafted high and was a total bust. Meanwhile, 24 year old me knew he was going to be a bust and probably said so ad nauseum on this very message board (or, more accurately, on a predecessor to this very message board).

Who would have a made a better GM - the Cardinals GM or me? Idk, but I certainly wouldn't have made the Leinart mistake.

---

Yeah, unusual for the Cardinals GM(s) to make a mistake, considering all the Lombardi trophies they have.
I know, I know, you had Brady late first...pardon my lack of respect....

---

You missed my point: I didn't say I would be a better GM. I said you chose a really bad example to argue that the professionals know more than people on a message board.

Athletic via NYTimes

Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (redshirt Jr.)
6-5, 225 | 21 years old
Mendoza's 2024 performance

A big, sturdy prospect with outstanding arm talent and enough athleticism to navigate against pressure in the pocket, Mendoza will team up with Indiana's Curt Cignetti this season after a year-plus as Justin Wilcox's starter at Cal. It's fair to expect an uptick in downfield shots, both inside and outside the numbers plenty of the damage Mendoza created within Cal's offense came on short, quick stuff.
Still, when he's been asked to operate from the pocket on a deeper drop, he's flashed explosive arm talent and an ability to make every throw.

Mendoza can be guilty of holding the ball too long in the pocket. His drop rhythm also has to be more consistent, and he needs to avoid throwing while flat-footed. But if Cignetti can do for Mendoza what he did for Kurtis Rourke, the former could be an easy first-round prospect and might even push into the top half of Round 1.

Call it spite, Schadenfreude, jealousy, whatever: I'm not proud of it, but I hope that guy sucks at Indiana and beyond.

Hey, maybe we'll play IU in the Rose Bowl and trounce them!

Oh, wait...

Rourke is a great comp…and he was a 7th rounder.

Mendoza does not have a Day 1 skillset (athleticism, deep ball accuracy, ability to process, etc.) and his ceiling screams NFL backup QB.

Those types of players are drafted on day 3.

BearlyCareAnymore said:

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mbBear said:

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ac_green33 said:

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mbBear said:

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GMP said:

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DoubtfulBear said:

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GMP said:

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75bear said:

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BearGoggles said:

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Leinart was getting the ball to others to make plays. Very good college QB, but not a pro.

---

"Getting the ball to others to make plays" is exactly Brock Purdy's job description, and he was just given more than $180 million guaranteed. So, Leinart could have worked out in the NFL if he was in the right situation.

"Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

With Carson Beck (Georgia to Miami) and John Mateer (Washington State to Oklahoma) each headed to new schools, Mendoza was hardly the headliner among quarterbacks in this winter's transfer portal rush. But his move might be among the most consequential for next year's draft. In leaving Cal for Indiana, Mendoza departs a program that was sapped of its top talent the Golden Bears lost five running backs to the transfer portal as well as their No. 1 receiver and tight end, among others for one infusing its roster with even more promising players. After helping develop another tall, strong-armed transfer in Kurtis Rourke last season, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti should be well-positioned to guide the progress of his new 6-5, 225-pound passer. Mendoza can operate far more quickly and with more precision (68.7% completion rate last season) than Rourke did, but he'll need to better navigate pressure after taking 41 sacks last season the most of any returning passer in the Football Bowl Subdivision."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2025/05/23/2026-nfl-draft-quarterback-prospects-sellers-iamaleava/83746151007/


…..yeah, something like that.

BearGoggles said:

---

I don't know how you can judge any QBs potential behind an OL as bad as Cal's last year. Mendoza has the ability to deliver the ball under pressure (keeps his eyes down field) and plenty of arm strength. He seems to read the field pretty well.

He didn't show enough to be a first round pick, but I wouldn't be shocked if he develops into one. Cignetti is a very good coach of qbs.

---

Who else had a bad o-line and really small hands? That bad oline makes the qb have to read and release faster developing their decision making.

https://imgur.com/a/TS4k9Hy

Yes, and that is why so many former U$C QB's that had 4 seconds to throw in college suck as pros when they get drafted high by a sh@itty team with an OL that provides 1.5 seconds of protection.

Yes, this.

Mendoza is a good college QB. He's eligible to improve with more snaps. He played behind a brutal OL last year..

But he also left a lot of plays on the field; failed to recognize where pressure is coming from against rather basic looks; struggled to read a defense; held the ball too long.

Projecting him to improve under Cignetti is certainly realistic.

Projecting him to improve his athleticism, deep ball accuracy and ALL of the nuances that go into the quarterback position to the level needed to be a day 1 NFL pick is maybe not as much.

Just to beat a dead horse....

ESPN's QBs to watch for 26 NFL draft

No real ranking but he is the 7th listed who actually got a paragraph.

MilleniaBear said:

---

Just to beat a dead horse....

ESPN's QBs to watch for 26 NFL draft

No real ranking but he is the 7th listed who actually got a paragraph.

---

No one is going to care about this but if Mendoza had stayed here he would have been our next Goff/Rodgers.

calumnus said:

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Strykur said:

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MilleniaBear said:

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Just to beat a dead horse....

ESPN's QBs to watch for 26 NFL draft

No real ranking but he is the 7th listed who actually got a paragraph.

---

No one is going to care about this but if Mendoza had stayed here he would have been our next Goff/Rodgers.

---

I think it is far more likely he would still be in the Gilbert, Pawlawski, Taylor, Barnes, Boller, Longshore, Riley, Davis, Garbers, Plummer et al group. Maybe near the top of that group and drafted relatively high like Boller or Davis, but a long way from Rodgers/Goff.

I do think it was crazy Wilcox/Bloesch did not just admit we were a pass first team last year and just kept having Mendoza throw downfield in the 4th quarter to maintain our leads. Cost us a ten win season that could have saved the program.

---

I think your assessment is about right. And you forgot Dave Barr on your list. And it's a list of good QBs - having a cup of coffee in the NFL (Gilbert and Bollers had more than that) is nothing to be ashamed of. At various points, these guys all made for some exciting times in CMS.

Strykur said:

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MilleniaBear said:

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Just to beat a dead horse....

ESPN's QBs to watch for 26 NFL draft

No real ranking but he is the 7th listed who actually got a paragraph.

---

No one is going to care about this but if Mendoza had stayed here he would have been our next Goff/Rodgers.

---

Not Goff/Rodgers but more likely - Garbers.

HearstMining said:

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calumnus said:

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Strykur said:

---

MilleniaBear said:

---

Just to beat a dead horse....

ESPN's QBs to watch for 26 NFL draft

No real ranking but he is the 7th listed who actually got a paragraph.

---

No one is going to care about this but if Mendoza had stayed here he would have been our next Goff/Rodgers.

---

I think it is far more likely he would still be in the Gilbert, Pawlawski, Taylor, Barnes, Boller, Longshore, Riley, Davis, Garbers, Plummer et al group. Maybe near the top of that group and drafted relatively high like Boller or Davis, but a long way from Rodgers/Goff.

I do think it was crazy Wilcox/Bloesch did not just admit we were a pass first team last year and just kept having Mendoza throw downfield in the 4th quarter to maintain our leads. Cost us a ten win season that could have saved the program.

---

I think your assessment is about right. And you forgot Dave Barr on your list. And it's a list of good QBs - having a cup of coffee in the NFL (Gilbert and Bollers had more than that) is nothing to be ashamed of. At various points, these guys all made for some exciting times in CMS.

---

Goff/Rodgers were not just "first round" they were, or should have been but for the Niners' foolishness, first quarterback, even first player picked (Goff admittedly maybe picked too high). That is just a whole other level and no one is forecasting Mendoza to achieve that.

Is @McShay13 buying the hype on Fernando Mendoza? Check out his scouting deep dive on Indiana’s new QB in the latest 'McShay Report': https://t.co/MmjYqB5Lga

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 12, 2025

okaydo said:

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Is @McShay13 buying the hype on Fernando Mendoza? Check out his scouting deep dive on Indiana’s new QB in the latest 'McShay Report': https://t.co/MmjYqB5Lga

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 12, 2025

---

You have to admit that his move is definitely paying off in the hype department. Now he has to live up to the hype.

calumnus said:

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okaydo said:

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Is @McShay13 buying the hype on Fernando Mendoza? Check out his scouting deep dive on Indiana’s new QB in the latest 'McShay Report': https://t.co/MmjYqB5Lga

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 12, 2025

---

You have to admit that his move is definitely paying off in the hype department. Now he has to live up to the hype.

---

High expectations can really screw you up.
Mendoza had the benefit of very low expectations.
He came in as the third string QB from Nowhere (i.e. a non- football powerhouse)
The starting QB and the second stringer fizzle out.
Mendoza comes in and unexpectedly makes Cal competitive in many games.
Many fans (including myself) are willing to overlook his screw-ups (of which there are plenty - in each of the close losses there were several screw-ups by Mendoza that could have won the games for Cal ) and focus only on the unexpected good plays.\ that kept Cal close in those games.

He moves to a good team that is now on the rise. IF Mendoza continues to have untimely screw-ups the Indiana Fans and the SEC Sports media will not be as forgiving as the Cal fans of the past two years. If so, they will focus on the screw-ups and look to tear him down. Those possible screw-ups will keep him from being a First Round Draft Pick.].

IMO Mendoza is not on a par with Goff, Rodgers, Morton, Bartkowski, Roth, even Webb, Pawlawski or Kapp [Although i must admit that I did not see Kapp play. I did see all the other QB's listed play.]

But maybe i am all wrong.

but can they teach him to slide feet first or will concussions end his season early and thwart his league ambitions?

0k
You got me.
I gotta stop watching TV while I am posting

GivemTheAxe said:

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0k
You got me.
I gotta stop watching TV while I am posting

---

Kill your television.

A lot of hype from Pittsburgh about the Miami cross-country traveller:

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/steelers-draft-prediction-adds-quarterback-121502525.html

"If the Steelers do draft a quarterback in 2026, Steelers Wire's Curt Popejoy predicts it will be Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza, who he considers the "hottest name at quarterback in college football."

"Right now, Mendoza is the hottest name at quarterback in college football. If he can live up to the hype, his first-round grade will be earned," Popejoy wrote.

Mendoza exploded onto the scene in 2024 at Cal, with the young quarterback tallying 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns to six picks."

That is a really in depth analysis where they reviewed every play

One thing I never read about is his deep ball

It rarely connected on long passes. Was that lack of time from our OL, lack of WR speed or was he just not good at it?

calumnus said:

---

okaydo said:

---

Is @McShay13 buying the hype on Fernando Mendoza? Check out his scouting deep dive on Indiana’s new QB in the latest 'McShay Report': https://t.co/MmjYqB5Lga

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 12, 2025

---

You have to admit that his move is definitely paying off in the hype department. Now he has to live up to the hype.

---

Cal88 said:

---

A lot of hype from Pittsburgh about the Miami cross-country traveller:

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/steelers-draft-prediction-adds-quarterback-121502525.html

"If the Steelers do draft a quarterback in 2026, Steelers Wire's Curt Popejoy predicts it will be Indiana signal-caller Fernando Mendoza, who he considers the "hottest name at quarterback in college football."

"Right now, Mendoza is the hottest name at quarterback in college football. If he can live up to the hype, his first-round grade will be earned," Popejoy wrote.

Mendoza exploded onto the scene in 2024 at Cal, with the young quarterback tallying 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns to six picks."

---

He did play the best half of football against Auburn I've seen any quarterback play since Rodgers at SC.

HoopDreams said:

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That is a really in depth analysis where they reviewed every play

One thing I never read about is his deep ball

It rarely connected on long passes. Was that lack of time from our OL, lack of WR speed or was he just not good at it?

calumnus said:

---

okaydo said:

---

Is @McShay13 buying the hype on Fernando Mendoza? Check out his scouting deep dive on Indiana’s new QB in the latest 'McShay Report': https://t.co/MmjYqB5Lga

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 12, 2025

---

You have to admit that his move is definitely paying off in the hype department. Now he has to live up to the hype.

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He is really good at throwing a laser between the hashes when he can step into the throw. We should have had more deep post patterns over the middle. Instead our deep throws were usually long sideline routes that are difficult to complete because they require timing and require the QB to put air under the ball, but also allow the CB to use the sideline as a second defender. Mendoza might develop better touch and timing with more experience. Other hard throwers have, but others never did.

The hype by ESPN for Mendoza is getting insane:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/45719770/2026-nfl-draft-top-pick-predictions-early-chances-tj-parker-garrett-nussmeier

A 12% chance of being the #1 pick overall in the 2026 NFL draft. He going to need 35 TD passes and 4,000 yards passing to meet this hype!

"Tier 3
17
Fernando Mendoza"

The Athletic ranked him #17 in professional minor leagues.

Pay to read

Not that it matters.

bearsandgiants said:

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calumnus said:

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okaydo said:

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Is @McShay13 buying the hype on Fernando Mendoza? Check out his scouting deep dive on Indiana’s new QB in the latest 'McShay Report': https://t.co/MmjYqB5Lga

— The Ringer (@ringer) June 12, 2025

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You have to admit that his move is definitely paying off in the hype department. Now he has to live up to the hype.

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He has always been underrated by most people at Cal, thus the move. The kid can sling it. I don't believe he's getting more hype because he left. If he'd stayed, they'd be pumping him up as the next Goff. Wilcox blew it by not letting him play much much earlier. That's all. He's going to do really well at Indiana this year and unless he gets hurt, he's most certainly going to be a first or second round pick. We really screwed the pooch, but he was also immature in his departure. On we go.

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There were reasons he started 2023 behind SJV and Finley. However, we can now use 20/20 hindsight to see that they were poor reasons.