Fernando Mendoza is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, but he has already decided he will not be in Pittsburgh when that moment arrives.
That decision stands out because top quarterbacks usually embrace the stage, especially when they are projected to go first overall. Mendoza, though, has chosen to make the night more personal than public.
It also says something about how he wants to experience the biggest moment of his career. Rather than turning it into a league event, he wants it to stay a family one.
Fernando Mendoza will skip the NFL Draft stage to stay home with family in Miami
The update came in a report shared by Adam Schefter, which explained why Mendoza will not attend the draft in person.
The choice is unusual for a projected No. 1 pick, but the reasoning behind it is simple and personal.
It was reported, “Projected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he is not planning to attend the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh this month, per sources.
“Mendoza wants to share the draft experience with his family in Miami.”
That framing matters because it makes clear this is not about avoiding attention. It is about choosing where he wants that moment to happen.
Las Vegas Raiders are the team most widely expected to draft Fernando Mendoza
The natural next question is which team is most likely to make Mendoza the first player off the board, and the answer is Las Vegas.
The Raiders’ official draft order says they own the No. 1 overall pick in 2026, while ESPN’s current order also lists Las Vegas first. Multiple reports published this week have then tied Mendoza directly to the Raiders as the expected top selection.
That link makes sense on both sides. Las Vegas has the pick, needs a long-term answer at quarterback, and Mendoza has been treated throughout the process as the clear favorite to go first overall.
So while Mendoza may not be in Pittsburgh, all signs still point to his draft night ending the same way. It just looks increasingly likely that the moment will come with the Raiders calling from No. 1 while he celebrates from Miami.
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