When you are expected to be the top selection in a draft-especially in the NFL-the spotlight is always on you. That is exactly what is happening with Fernando Mendoza, who is set to join the Las Vegas Raiders on April 23.
Lately, Ty Simpson, the quarterback from the University of Alabama, has been gaining traction as a potential second quarterback selected in the draft, likely in the first round. Comparisons between Simpson and Mendoza have already begun, and Mendoza has started facing questions about his performance.
For example, Dan Orlovsky, former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst, noted that in the first part of the season, Simpson played better than Mendoza. This is understandable because Mendoza was not highly projected early on. Surprisingly, he ended up becoming the best quarterback of his class, leading the Indiana Hoosiers to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy.
Fernando Mendoza’s background
The name Fernando Mendoza is uncommon in the NFL due to historical and demographic reasons. For many years, the league was dominated by players born in the United States, though gradually more players with Latin or Hispanic roots have joined. Still, surnames like Mendoza are rare at the quarterback position. One notable example in recent years was Mark Sanchez with the New York Jets.
Focusing on Fernando Mendoza, the current star and projected first overall pick, he was born in Boston in 2003. However, his family only lived there temporarily before moving to Miami, where he grew up and considers home.
In Miami, he developed as a quarterback, but when it came time to play at the college level, he first went to California to join the Golden Bears in the NCAA. He later transferred to the Indiana Hoosiers, where in 2025 he made history by going 16-0, throwing 41 touchdown passes, and winning the Heisman Trophy.
Now, Fernando Mendoza heads to the NFL as a highly touted prospect, but patience will be required-for both him and the fans. He is joining the Raiders, one of the league’s weaker teams, in a tough division-the AFC West. With limited talent around him, it remains uncertain if he will start from Week 1.
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