Why Fernando Mendoza thought he blew first meeting with Raiders

One of the worst-kept secrets of the NFL offseason is that the Las Vegas Raiders have reportedly planned for months to make Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of this year's draft on Thursday night. 

It turns out Mendoza thought he blew his first meeting with the Raiders front office and coaches at the scouting combine this past February.

How Fernando Mendoza impressed the Raiders during the scouting combine

For a piece published on Monday, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared that Mendoza spoke with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady "for about five minutes" via a FaceTime call at the combine. Mendoza was then asked to draw plays on a whiteboard during a meeting with the Raiders that lasted for over 30 minutes. 

"When their first meeting ended and Mendoza was leaving the room," Schefter explained, "he was visibly mad at himself and said loud enough for those around him to hear, 'I messed that up.' One Raiders scout walking with him insisted to him that he hadn't, that Mendoza had done great. He did well enough to help convince Las Vegas to select him with the No. 1 pick, while leaving the team with the impression that its soon-to-be quarterback is always striving to improve." 

It's no secret that Mendoza idolized Brady before the former became a household name, so perhaps the prospect was a little starstruck on that February day. Whatever did and/or didn't happen regarding the whiteboard session, the Raiders will be ready to start veteran Kirk Cousins in September if Brady and others decide that Mendoza should spend part of his rookie season learning about life in the league as a backup. 

Adam Schefter expands on Fernando Mendoza, Matt Ryan comparison

Recently, one AFC East area scout mentioned that Mendoza is "a lot like" Atlanta Falcons icon and one-time regular-season Most Valuable Player Award winner Matt Ryan. On Monday, Schefter expanded on that scout's take. 

"Ryan measured 6-foot-5," Schefter said. "Mendoza measured 6-foot-5. Ryan weighed 228 pounds. Mendoza weighs 236 pounds. Ryan's arm length is 32⅝ inches. Mendoza's arm length is 31⅞ inches. Ryan has 9½-inch hands. Mendoza has 9½-inch hands. And if Mendoza can go on to have the type of NFL career that Ryan had, the Raiders would be more than satisfied."

It sounds like Mendoza may demand more from himself than simply matching Ryan's career accomplishments as a pro.