There’s a different kind of energy around the Las Vegas Raiders as they head into a new NFL season, and a big part of that comes from Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders made the Indiana quarterback the No. 1 overall pick, and that alone has turned the spotlight squarely onto a rookie who already understands the job in front of him. Mendoza knows he won’t be handed anything by the fan base. He’ll have to earn it.
That mindset has already caught the attention of new head coach Klint Kubiak, who has pointed to Mendoza’s work ethic and his willingness to learn. For a team trying to build something real at quarterback, that’s exactly the kind of early read you want.
Mendoza also arrives with a development curve attached. At Indiana, he was mostly a shotgun quarterback, so learning how to operate under center is part of the assignment now. That’s a key piece of the transition as he adjusts to the next level.
For now, the Raiders’ plan is clear: Mendoza is expected to sit behind Kirk Cousins in 2026 and learn. Unless something goes badly wrong or Cousins gets hurt, the 38-year-old is set up to start all 17 games. Of course, that’s football, and nothing is ever locked in stone.
If the Raiders stumble early and drift toward missing the playoffs by the midpoint of the season, Kubiak could decide to give Mendoza a look. Even then, the expectation is that Mendoza won’t be under center until the latter half of the regular season.
That patient approach is the right one for Las Vegas. Development is a huge part of this season, and how the Raiders handle Mendoza may end up being one of the most important storylines of all.
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