If the Las Vegas Raiders end up with the No. 1 overall pick and decide Fernando Mendoza is their guy, then the next move is just as important-maybe even more so. Because drafting a quarterback is only the first step.
Developing one? That’s where franchises are made or broken.
And for the Raiders, that means hiring the right head coach-someone who speaks quarterback fluently and can build an offense that doesn’t just showcase Mendoza’s talent, but actually helps it grow.
Right now, the Raiders don’t have a head coach in place, and while a hire might not come before the weekend, the direction is taking shape. The focus is clearly on offense. Two names have emerged as frontrunners: Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb.
So who fits better in Vegas: Kubiak or Webb?
This isn’t just about who’s holding the play sheet on Sundays. It’s about creating a stable, quarterback-friendly environment-something the Raiders haven’t exactly been known for in recent years.
If Mendoza is the pick, he’ll need more than a few clever play designs. He’ll need continuity.
He’ll need protection. He’ll need a system that doesn’t change every offseason.
Because here’s the reality: young quarterbacks don’t get better by starting over every 12 months. They get better through reps, rhythm, and routine.
They improve when the rules don’t change. When the footwork, reads, and terminology stay the same.
When they’re not spending half the year unlearning one offense just to learn another.
That’s where the Kubiak-Webb debate gets interesting.
Kubiak brings structure. He’s part of the Shanahan coaching tree, and with that comes a defined system-a language, a rhythm, an identity.
If he’s the hire, Mendoza wouldn’t have to hit the reset button every year. That kind of continuity can be a quarterback’s best friend, especially early in their career.
Webb, on the other hand, is all about development. He’s not just in the quarterback room-he lives in it.
He’s focused on the details: footwork, decision-making, situational awareness. He’s a teacher first, and for a rookie quarterback, that’s gold.
Webb may not bring a full offensive system with him, but he brings the ability to mold a young passer from the ground up.
Both coaches offer something valuable. But here’s the catch: saying you want an “offensive-minded” head coach isn’t a plan.
It’s a preference. The Raiders still need answers to the foundational questions.
Who’s calling the plays? Who’s in charge of the third-down script?
Who’s guiding red zone execution? And most importantly, who’s sticking with Mendoza if the offensive coordinator gets poached after one season?
Because if the Raiders go with a head coach who’s hands-off with the offense, and then lose their play-caller to a promotion elsewhere, Mendoza ends up back at square one. That’s how promising careers get stuck in neutral.
General manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady-both with quarterback backgrounds of their own-need to treat this like a long-term investment. If Mendoza is the pick, the coaching hire has to be the insurance policy.
One system. One voice.
One staff built to stay together. That’s how you protect a franchise quarterback.
And it goes beyond just the coaching staff. The offensive line has to be built up.
The run game has to be real. The goal can’t be for Mendoza to carry the team from day one-it has to be about giving him room to grow without being perfect.
The Raiders can flip a roster fast. But quarterback development doesn’t move on that timeline. If they repeat the cycle of instability-new schemes, new voices, new expectations-then Mendoza risks becoming just another name in the long list of quarterbacks who never got a fair shot.
This is a turning point for the Raiders. And if they get it right, it’s the start of something real.
But if they miss? It’s another rebuild, another wasted pick, and more years lost in the quarterback wilderness.