'Fernando Mendoza will be a bust': Analyst rips Raiders over QB

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Candice Ward-Imagn Images

'Fernando Mendoza will be a bust': Analyst blasts Raiders, Tom Brady over rookie QB

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated May 17, 2026 9:04 AM ET

More often than not, the NFL tries to showcase and advertise the No. 1 pick like a future star.

This year, however, the Las Vegas Raiders won't have a single prime-time game, even with Fernando Mendoza on the roster.

Of course, Mendoza isn't likely to start at first — Kirk Cousins will. Knowing that, they might not want to risk giving the Raiders a prime-time matchup.

Fox Sports Radio’s Rob Parker believes this is just proof that Mendoza won't be a star. In an appearance on "The Odd Couple," Parker questioned Mendoza's ceiling and Tom Brady's involvement with the organization.

The NFL might not be high on Fernando Mendoza

“Fernando Mendoza will be a bust,” Parker said. “Don’t even bother watching. Tom Brady doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s ruined the storied franchise that is the Raiders. Don’t waste your time.”

Rob Parker: "Fernando Mendoza will be a BUST...Tom Brady doesn't KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING!" @robparkerMLBbro GOES OFF on the NFL for not putting the top pick in any primetime games and it must mean he's not THAT GOOD ️ @OddCoupleFSR pic.twitter.com/kOl6nMf07V
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) May 15, 2026

Per Parker, the fact that the league didn't even risk giving them a late-season prime-time slot just shows that they feel the same way about the Indiana product:

“How in the world could the NFL make a schedule and not have at least one game where we could see the first overall pick on a national level? Parker added. “It speaks volumes. It tells you they don’t think anything’s going on. One game? We can’t see Fernando Mendoza in one game? I mean, seriously, the NFL is telegraphing it. They don’t think he’s anything special.”

Brady caught some backlash for the Raiders' flawed 2025 season. He was reportedly heavily involved in the head-coach hiring process, but Pete Carroll was out after just one year.

Mendoza isn't the flashy quarterback prospect with the highest ceiling, and after years of watching potential superstars make the league at the top of the draft, he might not measure up to some of them.

Nevertheless, he seems to have a high floor as a potential high-end starter, not to mention an impressive work ethic and physical tools.

At the end of the day, there's just no way of telling how a quarterback will fare until he takes the field, and even if he doesn't start as a rookie, he should have more than enough time to silence the critics.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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