Scouting executive addresses how Mendoza compares to Maye

This past winter, draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network suggested that Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers would have been the fourth quarterback drafted in the spring of 2024 behind Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye.

Or course, the Las Vegas Raiders almost certainly will make Mendoza the first selection of this year’s draft on Thursday night. For a piece published on Monday, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic spoke with an unnamed scouting executive who addressed the Mendoza-versus-Maye comparisons. 

Fernando Mendoza has elite intangibles as a prospect?  

“It’s his efficiency in the red zone; you can tell that the plays that he makes, he has practiced them,” the NFL personnel director said about Mendoza. “Over his whole career, he has gotten better. He has those intangibles that people say are the reasons that people screw up in the draft. I think he has the answers to the test. I loved Cam Ward, but Fernando’s a better prospect than him. There are some physical traits in terms of arm strength and ability to run, where Drake Maye may have a little more, but I feel much better about Fernando than I did about Drake — and I like Drake.”

Maye made 12 starts as a rookie before the New England Patriots hired head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in early 2025. Under Vrabel and McDaniels, Maye became a Most Valuable Player Award finalist as he helped New England complete a journey all the way to Super Bowl LX.

Meanwhile, the Raiders may start veteran Kirk Cousins so that Mendoza can develop as an unused backup through at least part of the 2026 campaign. 

“The toughness really stands out,” one scout told Feldman about Mendoza. “The dude sits in there and takes some really good shots. He’s got good, not excellent, arm talent. I think he has a chance to be a solid starter. He’s a clean prospect. There are some just questions on the high-end stuff.”

One Fernando Mendoza concern stands out

Feldman mentioned that Mendoza only threw from under center roughly three times during his college career. One NFL quarterback coach warned that Mendoza could experience a difficult transition over the next handful of months. 

“A lot of their stuff was pre-snap and box count,” the coach said about the Hoosiers’ offense. “(Run-pass options) and back-shoulders. Indiana did have a little more of a developed downfield passing game with some of its three-level reads and seven-step progressions than some spread teams in college do. But there’s not a ton of carryover. [Mendoza] does have arm talent. His footwork will be more of an adjustment, staying on time and getting the ball out. He drives the ball down the field well. He’s accurate downfield, and he’s fearless in the pocket. That’s why I think he’ll be successful.” 

Interestingly, Mendoza addressed this very topic during a Monday appearance on the FanDuel TV “Up & Adams” program. If Raiders minority owner Tom Brady has his way, Mendoza may not take many meaningful snaps while playing under center before 2027 at the earliest.