Fernando Mendoza says an executive told him to “get arrested” during pre-draft interviews
At the NFL combine, Indiana’s standout quarterback Fernando Mendoza — widely viewed as the leading prospect for the 2026 draft — dropped an eyebrow-raising anecdote: an executive from another team allegedly told him, “Maybe you should get arrested,” during pre-draft interviews. Mendoza laughed when he recounted the comment to CBS Sports and said he kept going through the meetings, but he wouldn’t identify the team behind the remark.
Why that line matters
On its face the comment sounds like a flippant, tasteless joke. Taken as Mendoza later interpreted it — a hint at a draft-manipulation scheme — it becomes something far more troubling. If staffers are suggesting players manufacture off-field incidents to change their draft stock, that crosses ethical and perhaps legal boundaries. The episode has sharpened conversation about how far clubs will go to tilt outcomes in their favor and how the league oversees front-office conduct.
Immediate fallout and the bigger picture
Critics were quick to call the alleged suggestion unacceptable gamesmanship. League and team officials are likely to reexamine interview protocols and oversight practices as the draft approaches. Clearer standards — and consistent enforcement — would reduce reputational risk for clubs and help protect prospects already navigating intense scrutiny and pressure.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been widely reported as the favorite for the projected No. 1 pick; representatives did not immediately comment on the Mendoza allegation.
Where Mendoza stands
Mendoza remains the consensus top quarterback in this class. Scouts praise his blend of instincts and physical tools: he’s a cerebral operator in the pocket, accurate on throws across the field, and mobile enough to extend plays without forcing things. Those traits help explain why he’s drawing such intense attention — and why any attempt to manipulate his draft position would be so consequential.
Scouting takeaways
– Pocket awareness: Mendoza consistently avoids sacks and finds passing lanes under pressure, showing quick reads against complex fronts. – Accuracy: He delivers catchable, on-time throws that simplify receivers’ jobs and cadence with timing-based offenses. – Controlled mobility: He keeps plays alive with his legs while generally limiting risky throws or unnecessary exposure to hits.
What this means for teams and prospects
The episode is a reminder that the pre-draft process is more than workouts and measurables; it’s a high-stakes theater where interviews can sway perceptions just as much as tape. For prospects, that intensity can invite awkward or exploitative behavior from opposing evaluators. For teams and the league, it raises the question of how to preserve competitive drive without tolerating tactics that undermine fairness or player welfare.
What to watch next
– Will the league issue new interview guidelines or tighten oversight of scouts and front offices? – Will any team be identified and face consequences, or will this remain an unverified anecdote? – How will Mendoza’s public handling of the situation affect his draft narrative — and how will teams respond, if at all, on draft boards?
Mendoza says he completed the meetings and hasn’t altered his draft preparations. Whether this episode becomes a footnote or prompts institutional changes, it has already sparked a useful debate about where competitive edges become ethical lapses.