{"id":779646,"date":"2026-02-27T10:25:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T10:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/779646\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T10:25:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T10:25:17","slug":"dan-orlovsky-sounds-alarm-on-fernando-mendoza-after-underwhelming-tape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/779646\/","title":{"rendered":"Dan Orlovsky sounds alarm on Fernando Mendoza after ‘underwhelming’ tape"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fernando Mendoza is not impressing Dan Orlovsky.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback is apparently doing his draft prep, and he\u2019s not at all sold on the presumed No. 1 overall pick.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m through eight games [of Mendoza game tape] now, and through eight games, you see good, but there\u2019s a lot of underwhelming,\u201d Orlovsky said on \u201cFirst Take\u201d on Thursday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"DanDan Orlovsky is not a huge fan of Fernando Mendoza so far in his studies. Awful Announcing\/X<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not a ton of big-time throws. There\u2019s a lot of clean pockets. There\u2019s a ton of RPOs and back-shoulder fades \u2026 There\u2019s moments where you see \u2026 he\u2019s spooked with his feet and becomes a runner unnecessarily.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite everyone in the football world assuming Mendoza will go at the top of the draft to the Raiders<\/a>, Orlovsky has his eyes on a different quarterback.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think through eight games, Ty Simpson\u2019s tape at Alabama<\/a> is significantly more impressive than Fernando Mendoza\u2019s,\u201d Orlovsky added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Ty Simpson\u2019s tape from Alabama, through the first eight games of the season, is significantly more impressive than Fernando Mendoza\u2019s” \u2013 Dan Orlovsky pic.twitter.com\/78O9rTt14t<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Mendoza came out of nowhere this season to lead Indiana to a national championship<\/a> and a perfect 16-0 record.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Overall, Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards with an FBS-leading 41 touchdown passes and just six interceptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He won the Heisman Trophy<\/a> in overwhelming fashion for his efforts with the Hoosiers this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"IndianaIndiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the likely No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Simpson\u2019s Crimson Tide weren\u2019t quite as impressive, going 11-4 overall and losing in the second round of the College Football Playoff<\/a> to Mendoza\u2019s Indiana team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By the numbers, though, Simpson was excellent, throwing for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 contests.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Simpson is generally viewed as the second-best quarterback available in this year\u2019s class and is projected to land in the late first or early second round.<\/p>\n

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