NFL executive sends warning to Raiders fans about Fernando Mendoza hype

Those running the Las Vegas Raiders and fans of the team hope that the AFC West club landed a true franchise savior when it made former Indiana Hoosiers star quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

For a piece published on Friday, Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke with NFL executives about what teams did and didn't do during this year's player-selection process. One executive offered a harsh reminder to Raiders fans about how Mendoza's pro career may begin. 

How long could it take Fernando Mendoza to help the Raiders become a winning franchise?

"I think Mendoza will thrive there with (head coach) Klint Kubiak, but it will take two or three years," one executive said. "[The Raiders] just don’t have a good enough team." 

The Raiders are coming off a 3-14 campaign and, on paper, are still in the middle of a roster rebuild that was never going to be completed in a single offseason. That said, Mendoza is not expected to make regular-season starts for Las Vegas anytime soon. The Raiders signed veteran Kirk Cousins in free agency, and it seems like the club is serious about having Mendoza develop as an unused backup through at least a portion of the upcoming season. 

"All indications are they are going to make Mendoza sit," a different executive said about the Raiders. 

Raiders have given Fernando Mendoza a good environment?

The previously mentioned Kubiak is an advertised offensive guru. Additionally, Mendoza has Raiders minority owner Tom Brady as arguably the best possible mentor a quarterback could have early in his career. 

"I like what they’ve done in terms of creating an environment for their young quarterback," a third executive said about the Raiders. "They have an uphill battle in that division, but just from a foundational standpoint, they’ve built in a smart way. Kirk Cousins can hold the fort, you turn to your No. 1 pick when he’s ready, and then you have a center (Tyler Linderbaum) that should be playing with him for, hopefully, the majority of his career."

That's all well and good, but it remains to be seen how long the Raiders will keep Mendoza sidelined if they lose more than they win throughout the first half of his rookie season.