INDIANAPOLIS — The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine just turned the draft board upside down. While Saturday’s on-field workouts delivered blinding speed and raw power, the loudest noise came from the interview rooms. Indiana’s Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza opted to rest his arm, but his sit-down with the Las Vegas Raiders—and a phone call with Tom Brady—stole the headlines. Meanwhile, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love hit the turf and scorched a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, cementing his status as the premier back in the class.
Mendoza knows how to command a room. The national champion stepped to the mic with the exact same unshakable poise he displayed during his perfect 16-0 season. He is passing on throwing drills until Indiana’s April 1 pro day, following a trend set by the last three No. 1 overall picks. The Las Vegas Raiders hold the top pick after a brutal 3-14 campaign, and they desperately need a franchise face. Mendoza called new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak “savvy” and confirmed a phone conversation with Brady, the team’s minority owner.
The press area buzzed with electricity when he casually dropped Brady’s name. It feels like a lock. The Raiders have not drafted a quarterback in the first round since JaMarcus Russell, but Mendoza projects as a flawless fit for Kubiak’s system.
While Mendoza dominated the microphones, teams dug into the medical reports of other top passers. Alabama’s Ty Simpson finished his final college season with 28 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions, but he pushed through the College Football Playoff with a rib injury. Doctors poked and prodded him all week. If his medicals clear, his mental processing easily slides him into the top 40 picks.
Further down the board, North Dakota State’s Cole Payton generated serious buzz. The rugged dual-threat quarterback bruised defenses for 16 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns. Scouts love a physical runner under center, and Payton checks every box for teams wanting a developmental project with high upside.
The turf at Lucas Oil Stadium caught fire when the running backs laced up their cleats. Jeremiyah Love weighed in at 212 pounds and immediately silenced any doubters with his blistering 4.36 time. The Missouri native laughed off questions about a Cleveland Browns interview, confirming he met with the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs instead.
At wide receiver, Ohio State’s Carnell Tate used his 6-foot-3 frame to dominate the gauntlet drills. He openly campaigned for the New York Jets to select him at No. 2 overall, envisioning his elite talent catching passes in green. Out West, USC’s Makai Lemon skipped the 40-yard dash completely. He decided to let his route-running do the talking, effortlessly snapping off crisp cuts during the positional drills.
“I mean, who hasn’t admired Tom Brady? That opportunity would be fantastic… The coaching staff was in there. We went over some of my previous plays, drew some plays on the board.”
— Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Quarterback
The dust from Indianapolis forces several front offices to rewrite their draft boards. Las Vegas appears ready to hand the keys to Mendoza, stabilizing a franchise desperate for leadership. Tennessee sitting at No. 4 overall might pull the trigger on Love to take the pressure off Cam Ward. As teams pack up and head back to their facilities, the focus shifts entirely to the pro days. Expect coaches to flood Bloomington on April 1 to watch Mendoza finally let the football fly.
