Fernando Mendoza Not Attending 2026 NFL Draft: Peyton Manning Tried to Lobby Him

Fernando Mendoza not attending 2026 NFL Draft: Peyton Manning tried to lobby him

Mendoza is expected to go No. 1 overall, but he will skip the Pittsburgh crowd even after a pitch from Peyton Manning

NFL Brutally Snubs Tom Brady, Asks Peyton Manning To Help With Fernando Mendoza

Peyton Manning and Fernando Mendoza. (Photos via Imagn) Fernando Mendoza is hours away from becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. The star quarterback led the Indiana Hoosiers to the national championship in January. It confirmed that he was the best player in this year’s draft. Having Mendoza in Pittsburgh would have been special for the league. With the player planning to stay at home for the event, the league brought up the big guns …

Why did NFL ask Peyton Manning to help Fernando Mendoza?

Manning’s role in getting Mendoza to the draft The NFL used Peyton Manning as an intermediary to encourage Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to attend the 2026 NFL Draft, according to the story. The league has been treating the event like a major TV production, where top prospects are expected…