LeSean McCoy Questions Fernando Mendoza's No. 1 Pick Status: “He’s Not Great”
The NFL Draft may still be months away, but the conversation around Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is already heating up-and not everyone’s buying the hype.
Mendoza, the projected No. 1 overall pick and likely future face of the Raiders franchise, has been a lightning rod for both praise and skepticism. One NFL executive has gone as far as to call him the best quarterback prospect since C.J.
Stroud. But former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy isn’t sold.
Speaking on the Speakeasy podcast, McCoy didn’t mince words when it came to Mendoza’s NFL potential.
“Can we keep it real on the quarterback?” McCoy said.
“I love what Indiana did. I think Curt Cignetti is probably the greatest college coach of all time… [Mendoza] is not great.”
McCoy doubled down, pointing to what he saw-or didn’t see-when watching Mendoza play.
“When I watch [Mendoza], the eye test… I want everyone to hear what I’m saying. You can always get better.
But the eye test? Don’t tell me he’s the No. 1 pick overall,” McCoy said, with co-host T.J.
Houshmandzadeh nodding in agreement.
And McCoy’s not alone in his skepticism. Before Mendoza led Indiana to a national championship, Bomani Jones voiced similar doubts. On The Right Time with Bomani Jones, he questioned whether Mendoza has the traits that define a true top pick at quarterback.
“I got people asking me about Fernando Mendoza. Is he what the Raiders need?”
Jones said. “I watched Mendoza.
Mendoza looks like something I’ve seen very many times-a very good college quarterback. I know what the No. 1 pick in the draft looks like.
That ain’t it.”
Jones didn’t offer a detailed breakdown of what Mendoza lacks, but he did draw a contrast with another top prospect, Cam Ward, who was taken by the Titans.
“You look at Cam Ward and you’re like, ‘That guy was the No. 1 pick in the draft.’ You see that,” Jones said.
“Mendoza? Eww.
I don’t know.”
So here we are-three months out from the draft, and Mendoza’s résumé is already under the microscope. Despite putting up 41 touchdowns to just six interceptions and leading Indiana to a national title, some analysts are questioning whether he passes the all-important “eye test.”
And that’s the thing. In today’s NFL, it’s not just about stats.
It’s about traits. Teams are hunting for quarterbacks who can make every throw, escape pressure, and elevate their offense when things break down-guys like Caleb Williams and Josh Allen.
But even those two reminded us in the playoffs that raw talent doesn’t always translate to postseason success.
Allen missed critical throws in Buffalo’s AFC Divisional loss to Denver. Williams, despite tying the game late with a heroic touchdown pass in the NFC Championship, threw a brutal interception that swung the game back to the Rams. These are elite talents, but even they have their flaws.
So when McCoy says Mendoza doesn’t look like that guy, he’s speaking from the lens of someone who’s played with and against the best. That doesn’t mean Mendoza won’t succeed in the NFL. It just means not everyone’s ready to crown him yet.
And this isn’t the first time McCoy’s taken a strong stance on a quarterback. He recently questioned Sam Darnold’s role in Seattle’s Super Bowl run, suggesting the Rams’ defense made life too easy for him in the NFC title game.
“Y’all got the pompoms on for Darnold? Not me,” McCoy said.
“I think he played well, but if you’re asking the real question, the real question is where was the Rams’ defense at? Where was the Rams’ special teams at?”
McCoy didn’t hold back, either: “What do you want me to say? He’s a great quarterback?
When I watch the game, the Rams made it super easy for him. They rushed four all day, and they played zone.”
So, as the pre-draft chatter continues to build, expect Mendoza to remain a hot topic. His college production is undeniable.
His leadership in big moments is proven. But in a league where perception often matters as much as performance, Mendoza will have to do more than just flash the numbers-he’ll have to win over the doubters.
And if he does go on to thrive in silver and black, it might just be someone else-not McCoy-who’s first in line to say, “I told you so.”