Former NFL scout think Mendoza is a 4th round prospect

[PhinFan1968]

Nothing against him but being the top of a weak class is like being the fastest in a one legged race.

Sure is...but the top QB in each class will usually go #1 anyway. They're all unknowns until they go up against NFL teams.

 

[PhinFan1968]

Objectively speaking, he didn’t really play great in any of those games (completed 64% of his passes for 3 TDs and 3 INTs). He played good enough to win, but his efficiency was significantly lower. I’ve been hoping to see a Joe Burrow esqe game where he puts up stats like tonight in a close game. To me, he still looks like an above average game manager when games are difficult.

Fair.

 

[Lilseb93]

Mendoza is the best QB in the draft but I'm hesitant to call him generational. He'll probably be a good QB in the NFL, but I don't know if he's going to be anything Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning level. He's definitely at the very least a first round QB. Maybe he will reach those heights. It's going to be interesting to see how he does going from Cignetti and a great team around him to a new coach on the Raiders or Jets with a lot of issues. I'm always hesitant to throw rookie QBs into the wolves. I'd prefer for them to sit if I had the option.

 

[Czonka!39]

 

[laxcoach]

Like the kid, but he reminds me of the backup QB in Chad Powers on Hulu

 

[Austin Tatious]

Mendoza looks like the obvious number one overall pick. Kind of like, “what are we even talking about?” Raiders lock him down and everyone moves on. The fourth round grade and “analysis” looks like buffoonery. He showed everything you’d want to see.

 

[LANGER72]

After watching him play tonight he can understand some of the criticism of his game. I think if he gets a lot of pressure takes a few hits he will be off his game. Also the comment about his tendencies throwing to certain areas seemed correct. The QB crop is very thin. The Raiders will take him #1. I think he will take a few years to adapt to the NFL game

 

[Sirspud]

I want to be clear that my evaluation of him isn’t being harsh because I think he is a bad player. As someone who likes to evaluate talent it is disappointing to see Indiana beat teams so easily. When you look at his stats it’s very clear they aren’t sustainable; insanely high completion %, yards per pass and TD ratio. I was hoping to see him face some adversity. Hopefully Miami can provide more of a challenge.

When I say I want Ewers to see adversity without throwing 2 picks so I can actually evaluate him, I get skewered.

 

[Sirspud]

I honestly dont understand what all the hype over Moore is about.

I've never seen anything of him before tonight, and based on tonight I don't want to see anymore.

Then again the only time I saw JJ McCarthy play was in the national championship game where he was so erratic he could barely complete a pass but his team won so easily with defense and running game it didn't matter, and someone made him a top 15 pick, so what do I know about where QB's will be drafted.

 

[MrChadRico]

The issue isn’t his throws in games that are basically over. It’s the fact that he doesn’t have to play under any kind of pressure. I was hoping to see him with his back against the wall and have to step up to carry his team to a win. All we’ve got so far in the playoffs is Indiana systematically dismantling teams in every phase of the game. If I’m the Raiders I want to see him play when everything is going wrong at least once.

He did that in the OSU game and was clutch and got the win.

Well revisit this is 5 years when Mendoza is a perennial probowler

 

[zullo1]

I've never seen anything of him before tonight, and based on tonight I don't want to see anymore.

Then again the only time I saw JJ McCarthy play was in the national championship game where he was so erratic he could barely complete a pass but his team won so easily with defense and running game it didn't matter, and someone made him a top 15 pick, so what do I know about where QB's will be drafted.

Its pretty obvious Moore should stay in school. How anyone could think he's a first round pick is beyond me...

 

[zullo1]

After watching him play tonight he can understand some of the criticism of his game. I think if he gets a lot of pressure takes a few hits he will be off his game. Also the comment about his tendencies throwing to certain areas seemed correct. The QB crop is very thin. The Raiders will take him #1. I think he will take a few years to adapt to the NFL game

He's really the only 1st round QB in the draft.

 

[Avigatorx]

It’s wild that people watch Indiana with the best defense in college football, the best rushing attack in college football and only focus on Mendoza. It’s easy to look good when your team literally man handles opponents on offense, defense and special teams.

This isn’t a shot at him. Indiana would be blowing Oregon out with any QB on their roster. It is ridiculously hard to evaluate Mendoza because there is no way he will be surrounded by the talent Indiana has at the next level. How much pressure has he honestly faced in the playoffs? With their defense the game was over 14 points ago. At this points it’s pretty much steam rolling their opponent as they crash and burn on national TV.

Mmm, I disagree. I'm not saying IU isn't talented, but that talent has been maximized by outstanding coaching.

IU doesn't have a stacked roster like Ohio States, Alabamas and Georgias of the college football world.

I also don't buy into the recent trend of attributing college QB success to that surrounding talent. Sure, it's a factor, but all too often now I see critics using that as an excuse to downgrade these kids.

Most top prospects have their favorite targets, and their success is usually symbiotic. Pair that same WR or TE with a bad QB and suddenly they don't look so hot either.

Mendoza is worthy of a top pick any way you slice it. Will he pan out in the NFL? That's another question depending on the team and system he is thrust into.

 

[ThePeopleShow13]

Mmm, I disagree. I'm not saying IU isn't talented, but that talent has been maximized by outstanding coaching.

IU doesn't have a stacked roster like Ohio States, Alabamas and Georgias of the college football world.

I also don't buy into the recent trend of attributing college QB success to that surrounding talent. Sure, it's a factor, but all too often now I see critics using that as an excuse to downgrade these kids.

Most top prospects have their favorite targets, and their success is usually symbiotic. Pair that same WR or TE with a bad QB and suddenly they don't look so hot either.

Mendoza is worthy of a top pick any way you slice it. Will he pan out in the NFL? That's another question depending on the team and system he is thrust into.

At no point have I ever said Mendoza won’t be the 1st overall pick. He is the best QB in the 2026 class. People keep comparing him to Luck and Burrow and that’s where I step in and ask who people are watching.

Indiana wins as a team. LSU won because Joe Burrow threw for 5700 yards and 60 TDs in a season. They won 7 games where the defense allowed at least 25 points. In 4 of those games the defense allowed at least 37 points and they won. Statistically speaking, Indiana has been the best overall defense in college football that has allowed 11.1 points per game (over 15 games). They also averaged 218 rushing yards per game offense.

I have nothing against Mendoza, but he is not a comparable prospect to Burrow (not saying you’ve made that statement).

 

[ThePeopleShow13]

He did that in the OSU game and was clutch and got the win.

Well revisit this is 5 years when Mendoza is a perennial probowler

How often does 15/23 for 222 yards 1 TD/1 INT win a game when your team allows more than 10 points? They shut OSU out for the last 40:12 of the game. I agree that he played good enough to get a win.

It’s easy to forget that Indiana’s defense stopped a 4th and 1 play on their own 5 yard line in the 3rd quarter and that OSU missed a FG from the 9 yard line in the 4th quarter. OSU would have won if Indiana’s defense did not get the stop. The FG would have tied it and pushed the game to OT.

I want Mendoza to succeed, but being a perennial pro bowler on the Raiders is a dubious statement. Not a shot at him, but that organization is a dumpster fire. I would say the same about the Jets and us. Although I hope our new GM and HC change that.