Raiders assistant coach pumps the brakes on Fernando Mendoza hype

The Las Vegas Raiders are entering a new era. 

Using the No. 1 pick on Indiana's Fernando Mendoza was the first step toward a bright future, and as such, they want to put him in a position to succeed. This time, that means not rushing him to the field. They also have Kirk Cousins in the building, and as hard as Mendoza is working, some things simply cannot be rushed.

Considering that, Raiders assistant coach Mike McCoy wanted to pump the brakes a bit on the expectations and remind the fans that it'll be a process.

Raiders assistant HC says Fernando Mendoza will need time

"It takes time, and everybody's different," McCoy told ESPN's Ryan McFadden. "... I think the biggest adjustment, or one of the biggest adjustments besides the speed, is just the anticipation you have to play with at this level."

Of course, that doesn't mean he won't play as a rookie or that they'll spoon-feed him when he's ready to take the field. But for now, it's just baby steps for Mendoza, who needs to adjust to an NFL-style offense.

McCoy has worked with young quarterbacks like Cam Ward and Trevor Lawrence, so he knows what to expect from someone like Mendoza in his first year. The Raiders also brought in a bright offensive mind to lead the way, hiring Klint Kubiak as their new head coach.

They're doing things the right way, knowing they won't reap what they're sowing for at least a couple of years. That deserves plenty of credit in a time when teams are rarely patient with their prized rookies, often ruining their careers by throwing them into the fire before they're ready.