Overview
- Las Vegas clinches the top pick with a Week 18 loss to the Chiefs, setting up control of the quarterback board.
- ESPN’s Pete Thamel says the widespread expectation is that Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will declare after the season.
- FanDuel lists Mendoza as the early No. 1 pick favorite at -270 after a Heisman season that included a Big Ten title and CFP berth.
- Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says Tom Brady will be involved in the evaluation and likely favors a pocket passer, with no consensus yet between Mendoza and Oregon’s Dante Moore.
- Draft chatter includes The Athletic projecting a Browns trade-up for Mendoza, while other mocks link the Raiders, Jets and Cardinals as potential landing spots.