(2025 Transfer) QB Cal - Fernando Mendoza to Indiana

[Hovadipo]

1 minute ago, jermhoosierfan said:

Isn't it like the NBA where you want to get to that second contract ASAP because that is where the money is made.  A rookie can negotiate that second contract after the 3rd season I do believe.  If he believes in himself like he seems to, he can get $50+ million a year. He would be kinda crazy to stay 

4 years with a team option on the 5th in the NFL, I can hardly keep track of the insane NBA financial rules. Fernando would be starting his 2nd contract around age 28/29. I hope it’s gigantic. 

That 1st pick guarantee is going up like crazy too. Ward’s was 48 mil, Caleb Williams the year before was 39, Bryce Young 37. 

[J34]

Loss of Value Insurance + big NIL might be a good incentive to return. Maybe 1% chance.

[tyappleg]

He's odds on favorite to be the #1 pick.  He is not coming back. 

[rcbowla]

There are really only 2 factors that could make him even consider coming back. One is the time/experience with his brother. The other is if they don't win the natty this year and that really, really, really matters to him. Neither is a good enough reason. Go get filthy rich and play the game you love. So much can change in a year where he would not be in this same position. Gotta strike while the iron is hot. 

[cthomas]

Never even considered that Mendosa would be more than a one year player. And I don't think he did either.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

IMO there's not enough 1-year NIL money for him to stay at IU and run the risk of injury or simply a poor year vs grabbing the brass ring of an NFL multi-year guaranteed contract.  And I also believe that as close as the Mendoza family is and with his mother's health, there's no chance he'll pass up the opportuniry for her to watch her son play in the NFL.

[Pagoda]

If Fernando even entertained staying, I suspect Cig would tell him I’d love to have you here another year but ya gotta go and seize this opportunity.

[Magnanimous]

[Hovadipo]

Giants and Raiders play next week. If the Raiders lose that game they’ll be in the driver’s seat for the 1st pick. Not only is that a bajillion times better than going to the Jets, having a direct line to Tom Brady is a pretty legit resource for a young QB. 

[Brass Cannon]

1 minute ago, Hovadipo said:

Giants and Raiders play next week. If the Raiders lose that game they’ll be in the driver’s seat for the 1st pick. Not only is that a bajillion times better than going to the Jets, having a direct line to Tom Brady is a pretty legit resource for a young QB. 

Especially since Mendoza has referenced wanting to model himself after Brady. 

[Demo]

4 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Giants and Raiders play next week. If the Raiders lose that game they’ll be in the driver’s seat for the 1st pick. Not only is that a bajillion times better than going to the Jets, having a direct line to Tom Brady is a pretty legit resource for a young QB. 

Nothing about the Jets rates that kid. And the Raiders fired Kelly as OC, right? So they’ll be in a position to bring in a guy who really fits what you want to do with him. I like it. 

[Stuhoo]

Franchises change. Including owners and senior executives.

Need some evidence? The Jaguars, Panthers, Texans and probably Lions are playoff teams this year. Go back just a couple of years and those were looked at at the worst franchises in the NFL, not just on the field, but in management.

Now I understand that the Jets and Cleveland are kind of a special level of mismanagement, but the Lions used to be thought of as the worst case example, and so the Jets can change too.

[AZ Hoosier]

22 minutes ago, Demo said:

Nothing about the Jets rates that kid. And the Raiders fired Kelly as OC, right? So they’ll be in a position to bring in a guy who really fits what you want to do with him. I like it. 

except, well, the Raiders? 

[Hovadipo]

59 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Franchises change. Including owners and senior executives.

Need some evidence? The Jaguars, Panthers, Texans and probably Lions are playoff teams this year. Go back just a couple of years and those were looked at at the worst franchises in the NFL, not just on the field, but in management.

Now I understand that the Jets and Cleveland are kind of a special level of mismanagement, but the Lions used to be thought of as the worst case example, and so the Jets can change too.

Ask Fernando if he’d rather wait on the Jets to prove they can change or take his chances on the ownership group that now includes Tom Brady. 

Not that he really has a choice. 

[Brass Cannon]

3 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Ask Fernando if he’d rather wait on the Jets to prove they can change or take his chances on the ownership group that now includes Tom Brady. 

Not that he really has a choice. 

Is Brady not allowed to talk college ball because he’s an owner?  
 

Im shocked nobody has asked him about Mendoza 

[Hovadipo]

2 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Is Brady not allowed to talk college ball because he’s an owner?  
 

Im shocked nobody has asked him about Mendoza 

I’m not sure. I could see that being the case. 

[OliviaPope40]

33 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Is Brady not allowed to talk college ball because he’s an owner?  
 

Im shocked nobody has asked him about Mendoza 

I think he can but not for recruitment purposes he can do mentorship. This is all from Google.

[OliviaPope40]

Me yesterday walking around campus dead as can be not single player.

[jermhoosierfan]

17 hours ago, Brass Cannon said:

Especially since Mendoza has referenced wanting to model himself after Brady. 

His mother had the letter to him in the Players Tribune I believe with a link on this board somewhere, but she talked about how they lived in Boston for a time.  He is huge Brady fan and modeled his game after him when he was younger.  If he was drafted by the Raiders and got to work with Brady, he will be in heaven.  He just needs an OC and an offensive line to protect him from those defenses in that AFC West.

[Lebowski]

16 hours ago, Brass Cannon said:

Is Brady not allowed to talk college ball because he’s an owner?  
 

Im shocked nobody has asked him about Mendoza 

I am not aware of the rules but with Brady it's a unique situation due to his broadcasting gig.