Fernando Mendoza may have arrived in Las Vegas with the kind of résumé that usually forces a team’s hand, but the Raiders are not treating his path to the starting job like a coronation.
Mendoza went No. 1 overall out of Indiana after leading the Hoosiers to a national championship and a Heisman Trophy, yet that still doesn’t mean he’s locked into the Week 1 QB1 role. The more likely setup, at least for now, is that Kirk Cousins opens the regular season under center.
That’s been the sense around the team since the offseason, and the reason is pretty straightforward: Mendoza is still working through some of the normal NFL growing pains.
“He's had his fair share of growing pains, especially when playing under center, and mastering the footwork that comes with it,” ESPN’s Ryan McFadden wrote as part of a new article on Monday. “With veteran Kirk Cousins on the roster, the Raiders don't feel like they need to rush Mendoza.”
The transition makes sense. College football leans heavily on shotgun looks, and Mendoza dealt with plenty of that at Indiana. The jump to the NFL asks for a different comfort level, especially when it comes to lining up under center and cleaning up the footwork that goes with it.
The Raiders have already acted like a team in no hurry. McFadden reported that Mendoza has spent most of OTAs and minicamp working with the second and third teams, while the organization has taken a patient approach to his adjustment.
“He has impressed many in the building with his work ethic, leadership qualities and ability to quickly find open targets for completions,” McFadden wrote.
That patience tells you plenty about how Vegas views the bigger picture. The Raiders clearly want Mendoza to become more than a short-term spark. They know the best outcome is a quarterback who develops into a long-term star, and they don’t appear interested in speeding up that process just to force an early debut.
For now, the growing pains are part of the plan. And the fact that Mendoza still has plenty to learn only makes the Raiders’ approach easier to understand.
In Other News...
Raiders Fans Wont Like Where This Maxx Crosby Talk Is Going
Maxx Crosby keeps lingering in the kind of rumors Raiders fans would rather not hear, because the edge rusher is once again being mentioned as a name other teams could chase if Las Vegas decides to keep leaning into a rebuild. The Raiders have every reason to listen if the right offer comes along, and Crosby remains the sort of premium defender who would draw serious interest from contenders looking to add impact talent before the market gets crowded.
For Las Vegas, the bigger issue is what it says about the direction of the roster. A team built around young pieces and a new start under Klint Kubiak is in no position to ignore outside calls on one of its most recognizable players, especially when cap space and draft flexibility matter. The latest chatter suggests the conversation around Crosby is only getting louder, and the only real question is how far that momentum goes before it becomes something more concrete. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Have A Young Defensive Surprise Under Rob Leonard
Rob Leonards first defense in Las Vegas is still taking shape, but one of the early spring winners has been Tonka Hemingway. The second-year defensive lineman used OTAs and minicamp to build momentum and work his way into first-team reps, a notable sign for a player who flashed late in his rookie season and now looks like he may have a real path to a bigger role.
Hemingways appeal goes beyond just being active in the spring. He gives the Raiders flexibility along the defensive front, with the ability to move inside or work on the edge, and that kind of versatility can matter in a new scheme where the coordinators tendencies are still being sorted out. If he keeps carrying that form into camp, he could be one of the more interesting depth-chart climbs on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Fans May Not Like What Kubiak's Offense Means For Jack Bech
Jack Bechs first year in Las Vegas offered a little bit of everything, but not enough to guarantee a bigger slice of the offense once Klint Kubiak takes over. Bech caught 20 passes for 224 scoreless yards as a rookie, and with a young skill group around him, the expectation might have been that a second-season leap would come naturally. Instead, the early read on Kubiaks system points in a different direction, one that could keep the tight ends workload from changing much at all.
Kubiaks background suggests the Raiders could lean heavily on two-tight-end looks, with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer positioned to soak up snaps while Tre Tucker and Jalen Nailor handle important receiver roles. Nailor arrived on a three-year, $35 million deal, a sign the new staff already has clear plans for the passing game. For Bech, the issue is less about whether he belongs and more about whether there will be enough room for him to move beyond a limited rotation. [Read more 🡒]