For months, Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza has been written in Sharpie as the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The won the sweepstakes, winning not only the right to take their franchise quarterback but the extra time to spend on the rest of the draft, too. In a league driven by parity, it's soft factors like those that make the first pick in an easy cla s all the more important. Mendoza isn't the most promising pa ser to hear his name called first in recent memory. He's not the biggest, or the strongest, or the fastest. But after his tantalizingly efficient season, a succe sful Heisman campaign, and a championship to his name, Mendoza is a well-deserving inaugural selection. The only question for the Hoosier faithful is how many of his teammates will join him in Round 1. Is Omar Cooper Jr. a first-round pick? Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was a late entry into the early-round conversation. He didn't start the year as the top receiver on Indiana's depth chart, nor did he have the freakish athleticism or measurables to put him on the map before the draft cycle began. Cooper seemingly arrived out of nowhere, catapulting up boards with one of the craziest catches of the season. Almost immediately, evaluators flocked to Cooper's film and came away impre sed. He was an early Day 3 pick, then a Day 2 prospect, and, before long, in the first round of mock drafts. But should it stick? MORE: The good news for Cooper is that he checks plenty of boxes Hjalte Froholdt Jersey , mitigating the risk of his hype being the result of an over-weighted piece of evidence. Cooper is well-liked by the film community, citing toughne s over the middle and an ability to impact every level of the field. His usage suggests he can play both inside and out, his YAC was among the best in the country, and his platform season ended with 937 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Cooper blo somed in 2025, surpa sing teammate Elijah Sarratt and making key plays for a team destined for the history books. After the season, his stock continued to rise thanks to strong athletic testing numbers. Running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash with an average (6'1", 196 pounds) frame is impre sive, and he backed it up with a good 10-yard split and vertical jump, putting his excellent athleticism on paper. At the next level, Cooper projects as an instant starter in the slot whose quarterback-friendly skill set should earn him a high target share. He gets his hands dirty in traffic, turns routine catches into explosive plays, and has few drop i sues to speak of. That combination could very well land him in the back half of Round 1, as we've seen so many receivers do in recent years. While it's enticing to send the Hoosier receiver to Las Vegas at the beginning of Round 2, several playoff teams will be liable to roll the dice before the Raiders get that chance. Cooper's a top-45 prospect with real first-round hype, and as the draft approaches, he's the best bet to join Mendoza in Round 1. More NFL Draft news Deejay Dallas Jersey