A Blasphemous Hypothetical

Would you do this deal?

The Steelers trade their 21st pick overall and their #1 for 2027 for the Raiders 2026 #1 overall to draft Mendoza and the rights to the Immaculate Reception for the duration of Mendoza's career. This means the Immaculate Reception play would not be highlighted or a part of any NFL media.

 

Mendoza is a good QB, but he's not as good as Burrow, Lawrence, Luck, etc... previous "sure thing" first rounders. Definitely not as good as Mahomes, Allen and Stafford.

 

I've seen a lot of people who use 2024 as the QB draft class standard. I've seen almost unanimous agreement that if Mendoza was in that class, he would have slotted behind Williams, Daniels, and Maye, but in front of Nix, McCarthy, and Penix. Most seem to think he's closer to the second group than the first group. I would not trade #21 and next year's first for a QB in that group.

 

Steelers already have a National Championship QB on the roster. Why would you need two?

 

3 would be nice

 

I'll keep the picks, the bragging rights, and respectfully pass.

 

Why do people believe that Fernando Mendoza is this "Savior of the Franchise" now?!

He isn't even the best QB in the class.

 

Who do you rate above Mendoza? As crazy as it may sound, I actually like Drew Allar better than Mendoza. I hope the Steelers draft Allar with one of their 3rd round picks if he's still available. He could be the steal of the draft.

 

For me, it is Carson Beck, Drew Allar, Ty Simpson, Fernando Mendoza and then Taylen Green. If anything, Taylen Green is such a wildcard that if he can get into the correct system, one can win quite a bit with him. His problem though is getting into that style of system then progressing.

 

Taylen Green
Athletic Qb
We all know what that means
End of story
You must be a prophet
To keep seeing things in Allar that nobody else sees
Ty Simpson with one season
Lower Expectations

 

Honestly, I wouldn't care if Steelers didn't draft a QB at all this year. Grab a FA QB off the scrap heap, even if Rodgers doesn't come back.

 

Every single NFL team and scout has Mendoza the #1 QB in the draft and will in fact be the first player selected. We might not see another QB taken until the mid second round.

 

He looked consistent largely thanks to Curt Cignetti and that historic Indiana Team. Staring down receivers, not progressing through his reads, taking over three seconds to throw the football and isn't able to throw accurately consistently on the move or vs. pressure isn't what I would call consistent from the individual's point of view. Carson Beck did that much better versus Fernando while recovering from a UCL Tear in his throwing elbow. Add the fact that it will take Fernando more time to adjust to the NFL versus Carson given how Fernando comes from a College Offense vs an NFL one and the negatives against Fernando add up even more.


That said, even if Beck is included, there is no First Round QB in this class anyways as I see it. Beck would be about the closest one. Major reason he isn't is because he isn't able to throw consistently on the move; limiting him to certain Offenses. Everything else I just described Fernando having struggles with is the opposite for Beck.

 

The NFL's Opinion and my own are two different things. NFL Scouts have far more resources to work with than I do; namely when it comes to interviews and getting more info on the person behind the player. The biggest similarities that we both share is both of us do see the games these players play.


For me, Fernando isn't worthy of a First Round Grade and much, much less from the Number One Overall one.

 

What I saw in Allar is what people wanted to see out of him last season before he got hurt. His release time was getting faster, he was going throw his progressions better and he was much better at rhythm this season than in 2024. Long story short, Allar was progressing before his injury against the likes of Northwestern. Given how he looked both at the Combine and during his Pro Day though, I would say he is the 2nd best player overall. For me, the issues that he has are easily corrected since the foundational pieces for what an NFL QB should have are already there.


He needs to go to a place where he can red shirt and get acclimated.

 

But
Can the deer in headlights during big games be fixed?

 

That is a confidence issue. Not a positional based one. I believe it can be; provided he is in the right system.


For me, Mike McCarthy would be such a system. Red shirting would be a great benefit to him as he can not only get acclimated to the NFL but also learn from a Top 10 All Time QB in Aaron Rodgers. As I see it, it would be a win win for him.

 

I agree about redshirting
95% of qbs coming out of college need to sit and learn
They aren’t and that’s why most of them fail
NFL doesn’t give them a chance

 

The top 2 picks in the draft seem set with Las Vegas picking Mendoza and the Jets are making it pretty clear that they are taking David Bailey from Texas Tech. The question is who will the Cardinals select with the #3 pick? Could be Jeremiah Love, Arvell Reese maybe Sonny Styles?

 

Klint Kubiak seems to agree with me as well. Fernando is not a Day One starter by any stretch of the imagination for the baseline skills required to be one are not with him at this current time. Add in the fact that the Raiders still need to overhaul their Offensive Line and putting Mendoza back there is no different than David Carr's infamous Rookie Season.


Mendoza needs to sit it down and learn the game. Between the two though, Allar's ceiling is far higher for the requisite skills, along with natural traits, surpass his.

 

No lol weird hypothetical, but I dig it.

Honestly, I wouldn't trade anything of value to move up for Mendoza. I'd rather trade value for the myriad of players I currently have rated ahead of him as NFL prospects in the 2027 draft. Mendoza is a fine prospect, but I see his ceiling in the Flacco/Cousins range. I don't think he has what it takes to be a franchise changer on his own.