9 Latino Players to Watch Before the 2026 NFL Draft
Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla
The NFL Scouting Combine has just finished, and that means that the NFL Draft is just around the corner. The draft, which this year is set to take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from April 23–25, 2026, promises to be exciting for fans of our communities. Why? Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is widely regarded as the top pick in the country, and most pundits expect him to be picked first in the draft.
He would not be the first Latino to be drafted number one overall. Mexican-American Jim Plunkett was drafted number one out of Stanford in 1971, but it’s been a long time since then. In fact, most current fans of the NFL probably didn’t know—or don’t remember Plunkett, who also won a Super Bowl as a starting quarterback (Super Bowl XV) and a Super Bowl MVP.
All of this makes Mendoza the player to watch in this year’s draft class. But who else should we be looking at? Which players from our communities have a good chance of getting their name called during the Draft? Here, we break down the Latino players to watch before the NFL draft.
Fernando Mendoza, Quarterback (Indiana) — Cuban Heritage
The first Cuban-American to win the Heisman Trophy, Mendoza just led the Indiana Hoosiers to the national title. And his Indiana numbers back up the idea that he’ll go first: he threw for 3,535 yards and led the country with 41 passing touchdowns. He did that while throwing just six interceptions and rushing for seven touchdowns.
Mendoza reportedly met with the Las Vegas Raiders at the NFL Combine. The Raiders hold the number one pick in the draft.
KC Concepcion, Wide Receiver (Texas A&M) — Puerto Rican Heritage
The second biggest name in the draft from our communities, KC Concepcion, is an elite wide receiver with great route awareness and a great ability to get yards after the catch.
In 2025, he caught 61 passes for 919 yards and 9 touchdowns, and also added two-point return TDs. His versatility means he’s likely to be a first round piack in the draft, or early second at worst. There are a lot of teams looking for a big-time receiver.
Jacob Rodriguez, Linebacker (Texas Tech) — Mexican Heritage
One of the top defensive players in college football in 2025, Rodriguez was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and amassed 128 tackles (68 solo), 1 sack, seven forced fumbles, and four interceptions in 2025. Where does that put his draft stock?
His NFL Combine showing certainly boosted his stock, putting him squarely atop the best linebackers in the class. He’s getting drafted for sure, with projections indicating mid-draft, but he might surprise us by going earlier than many would believe.
Taurean York, Linebacker (Texas A&M) — Mexican Heritage
York has been lauded for his leadership abilities, something that always comes up in draft conversations. A three-year starter at Texas A&M, York had 72 tackles (32 solo), a sack, and three passes defended in 2025.
He had some good numbers at the NFL Combine, which prove that he will be a solid addition to any team. Experts expect him to be a mid-draft pick.
Diego Pavia, Quarterback (Vanderbilt) — Mexican Heritage
Someone is bound to take a chance on Pavia, a tough QB with great mobility that might not have Mendoza’s numbers, but would also command way less money as a lower draft pick.
In 2025, the Heisman runner-up threw for 3,539 yards and 29 touchdowns with just eight interceptions and also rushed for 862 yards and 10 scores.
It might all depend on what teams think of his personality (he was notoriously upset after losing out on the Heisman, and had to apologize for his comments afterwards). But expect him to get drafted sooner rather than later.
Josh Cuevas, Tight End (Alabama) — Mexican Heritage
Reliability is the name of the game for Cuevas, who caught 37 passes for 411 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
He had better numbers in one of his previous years at Cal Poly, and was solid in his NFL Combine showing, which is a good thing considering some teams might have been shying away from him due to injury concerns. He looked healthy and ready to be drafted, probably in the mid-to-late rounds.
Fernando Carmona, Offensive Line (Arkansas) — Cuban Heritage
Offensive linemen don’t usually go too high in the draft, but it’s hard to find a position as important as this one on the field, and Carmona was solid in his college career, so he’s bound to get some attention.
He’s certainly got the size and athleticism teams are looking for, and also very good technique and durability. Expect him to be drafted in the late rounds.
Joey Aguilar, Quarterback (Tennessee) — Mexican & Puerto Rican Heritage
Aguilar was fighting for a chance to stay in college for one more year not that long ago, but he pivoted to the NFL Combine fast after it was ruled he is not eligible, and with a weak 2026 QB class, there’s a good chance he still gets picked later in the draft.
He threw for 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2025, and has a lot of upside–but is now bound to face questions about commitment. Still a good chance he’s a late-round draft, or gets signed as a free agent right after the draft.
Enrique Cruz, Jr., Offensive Line (Kansas) — Puerto Rican Heritage
Cruz is capable of playing multiple positions, making him a great target for teams in the later rounds, or even as a free agent if he doesn’t get drafted.
Cruz Jr. was a cornerstone at Kansas and has good physicality and leadership abilities. Worth keeping an eye on, even if he isn’t as sure a things as most of the rest of this list.
