Mendoza Skips NFL Draft to Celebrate with Family in Miami
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- Fernando Mendoza informed the league he is not planning to attend the draft, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, and wants to share the experience with his family in Miami.
- The Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to select Mendoza first overall after he led Indiana to the College Football Playoff championship last season and won the Heisman Trophy.
- Mendoza was scheduled to visit the Raiders in Las Vegas on Tuesday, per a source who spoke to Schefter last week.
- Mendoza would join a list of recent No. 1 picks who skipped draft night in person, including Travon Walker (2022), Trevor Lawrence (2021), Baker Mayfield (2018), and Myles Garrett (2017), all of whom celebrated with family elsewhere.
- The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, with the first round set for April 23.
Why it matters: Mendoza's decision continues a growing trend of top picks skipping the in-person draft, with four of the last nine No. 1 selections opting for private family celebrations instead. For the Raiders, locking in a visit with the Heisman winner before draft night signals confidence in making him the franchise's new franchise quarterback.
