Unless something major happens, Fernando Mendoza will be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
That has been an open secret for months now, and Las Vegas Raiders fans can already picture him wearing their jersey.
Nevertheless, the Heisman Trophy winner won’t be in attendance on April 23 in Pittsburgh when the draft takes place.
Instead, he’ll stay with his family and friends in Florida, as he recently confirmed in an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
Fernando Mendoza wants to be with his family
“Pittsburgh is a great opportunity and it’s a great venue, and I’m really excited to see most of the guys walk across the stage on Thursday night,” Mendoza said. “It’d be a dream for a lot of guys, however, my mom really wanted to do it at home, and so did my parents. It’s a lot easier for us, especially with the family situation, and I would have to hop on a plane the next morning anyways. And, for that travel, it would be a lot easier to stay at home.”