Latest Intel on Fernando Mendoza’s Development With Raiders

• "The Raiders have been patient with Mendoza's adjustment to the next level, having him play mostly with the second and third teams during OTAs and minicamp," McFadden said. "He has impressed many in the building with his work ethic, leadership qualities and ability to quickly find open targets for completions."

• "At the same time, he's had his fair share of growing pains, especially when playing under center, and mastering the footwork that comes with it. With veteran Kirk Cousins on the roster, the Raiders don't feel like they need to rush Mendoza."

What To Make of Latest Update

It has been the status quo since the moment Las Vegas turned in the card with Mendoza's name on it in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Las Vegas has been in desperate need of long-term stability at quarterback, and the front office is not going to screw it up. The Raiders will start Kirk Cousins in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, giving the former Indiana quarterback ample opportunity to learn from the bench.

It is the correct decision, and as McFadden states, Mendoza has dealt with the learning curve of playing under center, a difficult skill to master, as he transitions from college to the pros. At Indiana, Mendoza operated predominantly in shotgun, running RPOs (run-pass options) at an extremely high rate. Quite frankly, that is not a sustainable offensive strategy in the NFL, where coaches and players can pick up the slightest of tendencies at the snap of a finger.

Running the same type of play over and over again and finding success is simply unrealistic. That does not diminish what Mendoza achieved in college, and based on what he has proven in offseason workouts, Mendoza's development and future are promising. As long as Mendoza is able to learn and pick up head coach Klint Kubiak's offense, which he will, the Heisman-winning quarterback will provide Las Vegas with a formidable answer at quarterback.

Although Mendoza is unlikely to start Week 1 and may not see the field at all in 2026, depending on what transpires with Cousins, Raiders fans should not be deterred or worried by this update. In fact, they should be thrilled that the organization is demonstrating forward thinking and a long-view perspective, which have been criticisms of the franchise in recent memory, with some of the moves and hires it has made in years past.