INDIANAPOLIS — The scouts have packed up their stopwatches, and the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is officially in the books. Standing on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium this past week, you could feel the electric energy from front offices as they evaluated the talent. As executives shift their focus to Pittsburgh for the April 23–25 draft, one storyline dominates the war rooms: Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the undisputed prize of this class.
Mendoza didn’t just ride the momentum of Indiana’s perfect 16-0 national championship run. He obliterated defenses all season, throwing for 3,535 yards and an NCAA-leading 41 passing touchdowns while tossing just six interceptions. He even flashed his mobility with seven rushing scores. If the Las Vegas Raiders pull the trigger at number one overall, Mendoza will become the first Latino selected at the top of the board since Jim Plunkett went to the Patriots in 1971.
The Heisman Winner and the Wildcard
The Raiders hold the cards, and they already held a formal meeting with Mendoza in Indianapolis. He brings the exact size (6-foot-5) and processing speed NFL play-callers demand. The icy wind whipping off the Allegheny River next month won’t faze him when he finally hears his name called. But Mendoza isn’t the only signal-caller turning heads. Enter Diego Pavia.
The Vanderbilt quarterback and Heisman runner-up stands at just 5-foot-10, yet his tape screams production. Pavia dragged the Commodores to relevance, racking up 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns alongside 862 rushing yards. He opted to throw at the combine on Saturday to prove his arm translates to the pros, while Mendoza rested on his championship film. Teams know Pavia comes with raw emotion—he famously had to apologize after a heated reaction to losing the Heisman to Mendoza—but his gritty, dual-threat ability makes him a fascinating mid-round target.
Weapons and Wrecking Balls
Teams hunting for explosive playmakers are staring directly at Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion. The Puerto Rican heritage receiver is a nightmare in open space. He hauled in 61 passes for 919 yards and nine touchdowns last season, adding two punt return scores. Concepcion operates like a human joystick, telling reporters he views himself as an absolute steal for any franchise willing to let him operate from the slot or the backfield. Expect his name to fly off the board late Thursday night or early Friday.
On the defensive side, a pair of ferocious linebackers are rocketing up draft boards. Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez took home Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors after an absurd campaign: 128 tackles (68 solo), seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions. He crushed his combine interviews and solidified a day-two grade. Right behind him is Taurean York out of Texas A&M. A three-year starter and vocal leader, York posted 72 tackles and proved he has the sideline-to-sideline speed needed for the Sunday game.
The Trench Warriors and Late-Round Steals
NFL games are won in the trenches, making Arkansas offensive lineman Fernando Carmona and Kansas utility blocker Enrique Cruz Jr. highly coveted assets. Carmona brings massive size and proven SEC durability, locking him in as a late-round value pick. Cruz offers the versatility to slide across the line, an absolute premium for offensive line coaches managing 53-man rosters.
We also have to watch the offensive wildcards. Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas erased prior injury concerns with a stellar medical check in Indy, flashing the reliable hands that secured 37 catches for 411 yards. Meanwhile, Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar faces questions about his 2026 eligibility pivot but still carries the upside of a passer who threw for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns. With a relatively thin quarterback class behind the top names, he is a prime candidate for a day-three flier.
“I think my mind is just underrated, just the way I process. I feel like I’m a fast processor. I’m humble, and I get my confidence from my process… Coach Lea always stressed that your frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until you’re 25, and I just turned 24. So I’ve got like 360 days to go.”
— Diego Pavia, Quarterback, Vanderbilt (Speaking at the 2026 NFL Combine)
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The Las Vegas Raiders are officially on the clock. With a desperate need under center following a disastrous 3-14 campaign, all signs point to Mendoza heading to the desert. If Las Vegas locks him in at number one, it triggers an immediate ripple effect across the quarterback market for teams like the Jets, Titans, and Giants sitting in the top five. Pavia’s landing spot will heavily dictate the middle rounds; a team like the Rams or Seahawks could grab him as a high-end developmental backup to sit and learn behind established veterans.
For Concepcion, a strong pro day could elevate him firmly into the first round, potentially drawing eyes from receiver-needy contenders like the Bills or Chiefs at the bottom of round one. The next checkpoint for all 32 front offices is the barrage of campus pro days kicking off later this month, culminating in Mendoza’s highly anticipated April 1 throwing session.