Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza—widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick—has opted to skip the NFL Draft’s in-person festivities in favor of a quieter night at home with his family. Dan Patrick can’t help but wonder what that means for the broadcast, given Mendoza was shaping up to be the event’s lone true marquee star.
Dan Patrick: “It's like you go to a play opening night and the star is not going to be there. He'll eventually be there, but he's not going to be there that opening night. And this draft is void of stars, name recognition. You have Jeremiyah Love now. He's the other big name. But, you know, this was about Fernando Mendoza.”