Fernando Mendoza, NFL Draft's most likely first pick, won't attend in person

• ESPN has reported that Fernando Mendoza, the likely first pick, will not attend the event in person
• Rumors suggest that he will be picked by the Las Vegas Raiders, and the player has chosen to spend the time of the draft with his family in Miami
• Many first picks over the years have chosen to skip the NFL Draft, seeing it as a mere formality

Fernando Mendoza is touted to be the first pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and by the Las Vegas Raiders at that, but he may not be attending the ceremony in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in person after all.

Fernando Mendoza to skip NFL Draft, spend time with family

This is a personal choice of his, as he will be heading over to Miami with his family instead of attending the draft, a report by ESPN now suggests, perhaps the makings of a true NFL great in the making.

Attending the NFL Draft is not compulsory, but it is good form. However, Mendoza’s draft stock is high enough to allow him the luxury to coast on his college accolades before he pursues a full-time career as part of the league.

Mendoza is hardly the only promising prospect to have skipped the event, seeing it as an unnecessary rubber stamp more so than a career-advancing get-together. Travon Walker skipped the NFL Draft in 2022, and so did Trevor Lawrence in 2021.

In fact, it has become customary for some of the top-tier prospects to just choose and spend their time elsewhere. The Pittsburgh event will get underway for the first round on April 23.

Other players, though, are expected to be there in person, among whom are Carson Beck and Diego Pavia.

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