Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, responded Saturday to a question about visiting President Donald Trump at the White House with his Indiana Hoosiers championship team.
Speaking at a Raiders press conference, Mendoza said he believes the scheduled visit date, May 11, conflicts with the first day of Las Vegas Raiders organized team activities. He stated, "As a rookie, I don't think that's a good look. I want to best serve my teammates."
However, the Raiders' OTAs actually begin May 18, not May 11, meaning there is no official conflict. Mendoza led Indiana to a historic 16-0 season and the college football championship, also winning the 2025 Heisman Trophy.
Previous No. 1 picks Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow visited Trump at the White House during his first term. Mendoza's decision now draws attention as he realizes the date may allow him to attend without missing practice.