Why Fernando Mendoza will not be attending 2026 NFL Draft: Probable No. 1 pick to skip trip to Pittsburgh

Why Fernando Mendoza will not be attending 2026 NFL Draft: Probable No. 1 pick to skip trip to Pittsburgh originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Indiana quarterback Francisco Mendoza said he will not be in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the 2026 NFL Draft, per Adam Schefter. Instead, the presumptive No. 1 overall pick will be in his hometown of Miami, Florida, with friends.

Mendoza is coming off a Heisman-winning season at Indiana, where he helped the Hoosiers complete a perfect season. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the draft, and all signs point to them selecting Mendoza as their quarterback of the future. A top player opting to spend the draft at home isn’t totally new, but it does remove some allure from the start of the draft broadcast, as he won’t be walking across the stage to greet NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Here is more on why Mendoza said he will not attend the 2026 NFL Draft.

MORE: Latest seven-round 2026 NFL Mock Draft

Why Fernando Mendoza won't be attending 2026 NFL Draft

It was announced Tuesday, April 7, by ESPN analyst Adam Schefter that the Indiana quarterback will not attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Mendoza is instead opting to spend the draft in Miami with his friends and family. From the interviews we’ve seen throughout his Heisman-winning season, it has always been clear how much those close to him mean to him, so this is not surprising.

If Mendoza opts to skip the draft, he will be the first No. 1 overall pick since the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Travon Walker in 2022 to not attend in person.

This article will be updated.