Two things are true when it comes to the future: you don’t know what it holds and you would like to know what it holds.
Everyone is different, but there is clearly a market for the fortune teller profession. If there weren’t, we wouldn’t have random genies at arcades attempting to signal what is coming next. Fortune cookies wouldn’t exist. The psychic industry would cease to exist, and don’t even get us started on the Magic 8-Ball.
Advertisement
The modern world has gifted us plenty of conveniences and luxuries, things that would’ve been unimaginable previously. One of them is the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), which often replaces organic intelligence in the name of convenience.
Whatever the reason, USA TODAY Sports has enjoyed peeling back the curtain behind the technology to test its skills as it relates to the NFL. After plenty of mock drafts, including one that is probably the worst of all-time, we decided to take it to a new level.
Predicting Fernando Mendoza’s career ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
We asked Microsoft Copilot to “predict Fernando Mendoza’s career path, including record, awards, Super Bowl wins, teams and other key stats,” to see what happened. The chatbot gave us a modern-day time capsule, which we can look back on and track its success.
1 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
1 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
2. New York Jets – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech
3 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
4 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
5 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
6 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
7 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
8 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
8. New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
9 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
10 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams) – Malachi Lawrence, DE, UCF
30 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
30. Miami Dolphins (from Denver Broncos) – Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
31 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
31. New England Patriots – Zion Young, DE/OLB, Missouri
32 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
Fernando Mendoza career stats projected by AI
Copilot projects that Mendoza will play 14 NFL seasons and suit up for the Raiders, Vikings and Jets. It believes he will make a playoff appearance in 50% of those seasons and hoist one Lombardi Trophy.
Advertisement
The chatbot summed up Mendoza’s career like this:
“A high‑accuracy, timing‑based franchise quarterback who peaks as an MVP and Super Bowl champion, with a long, stable, productive career,” Copilot said. “Not a generational GOAT, but absolutely a franchise cornerstone and a champion.”
NFL Career: 2026–2039 (14 seasons)
Teams:
Las Vegas Raiders (2026–2033)
Minnesota Vikings (2034–2037)
New York Jets (2038–2039)
Career Record as Starter: 108–83
Super Bowl Appearances: 1
All‑Pro Selections: 1 (Second Team)
Fernando Mendoza career path prediction
2026 — Rookie Season (Raiders)
Stats: 3,420 yards, 20 TD, 14 INT, 63%
Shows accuracy and poise but struggles behind a shaky line.
Finishes 2nd in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
2027 — Breakout Year
Record: 9–8 (Wild Card berth)
Stats: 4,080 yards, 27 TD, 10 INT
Raiders lose in wild-card round.
Mendoza earns his first Pro Bowl.
2028 — Ascending
Stats: 4,300 yards, 31 TD, 12 INT
Raiders win a playoff game for the first time in years.
Mendoza is now viewed as a top‑12 QB.
2029 — MVP Season
Stats: 4,650 yards, 38 TD, 8 INT, 70%
Raiders reach AFC Championship Game but lose to a veteran powerhouse.
2030 — Regression but Still Strong
Stats: 4,100 yards, 26 TD, 13 INT
Offensive line injuries derail the season.
2031 — Peak Efficiency
Stats: 4,350 yards, 33 TD, 9 INT
Named second‑team All‑Pro.
Raiders lose in divisional round.
2032 — The Decline Begins
Stats: 3,900 yards, 22 TD, 15 INT
Coaching turnover hurts development.
2033 — Final Raiders Season
Stats: 3,750 yards, 21 TD, 12 INT
Raiders draft a QB; Mendoza hits free agency.
2034 — Minnesota Vikings era begins
A fresh start revitalizes him.
Stats: 4,200 yards, 29 TD, 11 INT
Vikings lose in wild-card round.
2035 — Super Bowl Run
Stats: 4,450 yards, 34 TD, 9 INT
Vikings reach Super Bowl LXX, defeating the Ravens.
Mendoza wins Super Bowl MVP.
2036
Stats: 3,980 yards, 24 TD, 13 INT
Advertisement
2037
Stats: 3,600 yards, 20 TD, 14 INT
Vikings move on to a younger QB.
2038 — New York Jets era begins (Final stop)
Stats: 3,200 yards, 17 TD, 12 INT
2039 — Retirement Year
Stats: 2,450 yards, 12 TD, 9 INT
Announces retirement at age 36.
1 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
1 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
2 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
2. New York Jets – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech
3 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
3. Arizona Cardinals – Arvell Reese, LB/DE, Ohio State
4 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
4. Tennessee Titans – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
5 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
5. New York Giants – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
6 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
6. Cleveland Browns – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
7 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
7. Washington Commanders – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
8 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
8. New Orleans Saints – Makai Lemon, WR, USC
9 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
9. Kansas City Chiefs – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
10 / 32
NFL mock draft: Big-name prospect drops in latest first-round projection
