The pressure was on quarterback Fernando Mendoza as he took the field for Indiana's Pro Day. His future employer, the Las Vegas Raiders, had a large contingent in the building for the workout. And although his résumé speaks for itself, Mendoza could erase any and all doubt with a great outing.
And while he didn't necessarily have anything to gain, seeing as he is currently the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza still checked every box for the 10 or so Raiders representatives on hand. No apprehension should still exist for anyone who was in attendance after that.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti layered some incredible praise on his now-former quarterback before the event began, giving fans an even better indication of who they're getting under center. And then Mendoza took the field and demonstrated why he'll be the No. 1 pick in the draft later this month.
Fernando Mendoza checks all of Las Vegas Raiders' boxes at Indiana Pro Day
Before he even began throwing or warming up, Mendoza impressed with just how solid his body looked. Although he was listed at 225 pounds on the Indiana website, he weighed in at 236 pounds at the NFL Combine, and some said he is up to 238 pounds now. His legs just look thicker than before.
And it was obvious to everyone watching that Mendoza just has this aura about him as a leader. His teammates seem drawn to him and his ability to command a room. Almost every Hoosier there seemingly made it a point to go out of their way and show him some love before the workout.
Then, Mendoza balled out during his throwing session. It wasn't just his skill set that impressed, however. Former NFL general manager and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum noted that he's never seen a quarterback at a Pro Day bark out every single route to his receivers as Mendoza did.
Every few plays or so, Mendoza would take a glance at his workout sheet and come back with six to eight throws he had memorized. And he was loudly communicating to each receiver what route they were running on each play, putting his preparation, leadership and communication fully on display.
Mendoza's workout didn't last long, but he made it a point to break a sweat by moving through the concepts quickly. He told ESPN reporters that he didn't want any fluff in the workout, just a demonstration of translatable skills to the NFL for him and his teammates.
He made practically every throw in the book, as only three of his 56 passes hit the ground. Two were clear drops, and one was a slight misfire. Not every throw was perfect, but Mendoza threw with great anticipation, the deep ball was rolling, and he looked comfortable under center, and on the move.
Hidden among all of this praise is the very real fact that Mendoza did not have to throw at all on Wednesday. He could have rested on his laurels and still been the first overall pick later this month. But Mendoza is a competitor and wanted to showcase his teammates, which are two great qualities.
Even more impressive than Mendoza slinging it during his workout was the fact that he displayed what kind of leader and human being he is. And he'll continue to do that in every meeting he has with the Raiders until he comes to Las Vegas on April 24 and officially joins The Dark Side.