Tyler Linderbaum just gave the Raiders a pretty sharp window into where Fernando Mendoza stands right now.
After joint practices with the rookie quarterback, the Las Vegas center said Mendoza is “taking command of the huddle” and moving quickly in a job that’s “hard to do as a young guy.” He also made one thing clear: Mendoza knows he’s “not where he wants to be.”
That’s the kind of comment that matters because Linderbaum is the man touching the ball every snap. He’s the one who sees the operation up close, from the first exchange to the final read.
And in this case, he didn’t stop at Mendoza. He also pointed to the snap exchange as the detail that can decide whether a young quarterback behind center survives the learning curve.
That part is especially important because Mendoza barely took snaps under center in college. For a rookie still getting comfortable with the mechanics, that small piece of the operation can turn into a big problem fast.
Linderbaum also had strong words for Kirk Cousins, calling out his preparation and experience as the benchmark the young players are chasing. That gives the Raiders’ quarterback picture a pretty clear outline: one veteran setting the standard, one rookie pushing up the depth chart, and one of the league’s most trusted interior linemen watching it all unfold.
The Raiders paid Linderbaum $81 million this spring to be that stabilizing presence at the line, and his latest comments read like a real-time update on the competition Las Vegas built its offseason around. In Henderson, the big question is no longer whether Mendoza is on the move. It’s when he gets there.
In Other News...
Tom Brady Just Sent Raiders Fans A Loud Fernando Mendoza Message
Tom Brady has found a new way to stir up Raiders buzz, and it comes through a piece of memorabilia tied to Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders part-owner recently landed a one-of-one Mendoza rookie card that includes the quarterbacks first NFL autograph, and the deal took weeks of negotiation before Brady finally secured it with a cash payment and an autographed jersey.
Brady then showed off the card publicly, turning a collectors prize into a pointed message about what he sees in Mendozas future. For Raiders fans, it reads like more than just a flex from a Hall of Famer. It is also a sign that Brady views the young quarterback as both a desirable collectible and a possible long-term asset for the team. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Already Moved On From Their Newest Receiver Addition
The Raiders latest receiver shuffle lasted barely a week, with Noah Brown moving on almost as quickly as he arrived. Brown had appeared in a preseason game and finished with one catch for 11 yards, but Las Vegas decided to release him without immediately bringing in another player, a reminder of how quickly the back end of the roster can change in August.
Receiver depth has been a moving target for the Raiders, especially with injuries affecting the group and another wideout expected back soon. Browns departure fits the kind of short-term adjustment teams often make this time of year, when every spot is under review and even a recent addition can become the odd man out in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Former Raiders Specialist Just Walked Into A High-Stakes Kicker Battle
The Saints are making the kicker job a real contest again by bringing in Daniel Carlson, the veteran specialist who spent years as one of the Raiders most reliable legs. Carlson arrives with two All-Pro nods on his resume and joins a mix that already included rookies Charlie Smyth and Tanner Brown, giving New Orleans a more experienced option as it sorts out the position.
Smyth had been viewed as the frontrunner, but Carlsons addition changes the tone of the competition heading toward the regular season. For Raiders fans, it is another reminder of how much NFL teams still value a trusted kicker, especially when roster decisions start to tighten and every practice rep suddenly carries more weight. [Read more 🡒]