The show will go on in Pittsburgh later this month. But its marquee star won’t be there.
According to a report from ESPN, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has informed the NFL that he is not planning to attend the NFL Draft. The Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to the national championship, Mendoza is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick.
While a heavy majority of projected first-round picks accept invites to attend the draft in person at its site, it is not entirely uncommon for some prospects to choose to stay with family and/or friends at their home or a venue closer to their hometown.
Though the covid outbreak affected the 2020 and 2021 drafts, as recently as 2022 the No. 1 overall pick was not on hand for the draft held in Las Vegas. That year, Georgia defensive end Travon Walker was selected first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Typically, about two dozen players expected to go in the first round are invited to attend the draft event, often accompanied by family in the “green room.” This, at times, has led to some awkward moments such as when in 2005 future Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers infamously slid from consideration to be the No. 1 overall pick all the way down to 24th overall to the Green Bay Packers.
Three years ago, Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State and North Allegheny High School was on hand in Kansas City for the opening of the draft. But Porter, a cornerback, was not picked in the first round. He left town and was taken the following day with the first pick of the second round by the hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Las Vegas Raiders have the No. 1 choice for this year’s draft and have made little effort to hide that they plan on taking Mendoza.
The first round begins on the evening of April 23, with the second and third rounds the next evening and the final four rounds throughout the day Saturday.
The stage for this year’s draft is currently being erected on the North Shore outside of the east side of Acrisure Stadium.