Overview
- Indiana’s title team visited the White House on Monday, with President Donald Trump saying absent quarterback Fernando Mendoza called to explain and describing him as a “big fan.”
- Mendoza told reporters on May 2 he would not miss practice or offseason team work as a rookie, after taking part in the Raiders’ rookie minicamp and ahead of OTAs slated to begin May 18.
- Head coach Curt Cignetti said roughly 15 Hoosiers drafted this spring also missed the ceremony because they were with their NFL teams.
- One outlet noted the Raiders’ public calendar listed no formal workout on May 11, creating a disputed question about exact dates even as most reports echoed Mendoza’s focus on team activities.
- The choice reflects a common rookie calculus, as the top pick is competing for snaps behind new signee Kirk Cousins and weighing a traditional college honor against early NFL standing.