The Broncos may have a real opening for Que Robinson, and the early read around the second-year linebacker is encouraging. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that with Jonathon Cooper’s situation in flux, Robinson is positioned to make the most of the chance in front of him. Breer also described Robinson as someone who can be a “disruptive force” in Denver’s system, with Jonah Elliss and Dondrea Tillman providing additional depth at the position.
There’s also a different kind of change brewing on offense. Former Broncos quarterback Ben DiNucci said the unit should look simpler under offensive coordinator Davis Webb, with a faster pace getting the group to the line of scrimmage more quickly.
DiNucci said, “I think first and foremost, you’re gonna see more of an emphasis on these guys breaking the huddle quick and getting to the line of scrimmage,” and added that Sean Payton’s offense can be “wordy.” He said the expectation is that Webb has already tightened up the play calls and formations so players hear less clutter and get the information faster.
DiNucci also expects more no-huddle and up-tempo football. He pointed to Webb’s background at Texas Tech, Cal, and in the NFL with Patrick Mahomes, Kliff Kingsbury, and Brian Daboll as reasons to think the offense will lean into a spread look that lets Bo and the receivers “let it rip.”
In Las Vegas, Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza said he doesn’t share every conversation he has with Tom Brady, but he did reveal the message Brady has stressed. Mendoza said Brady wants him to follow the path of a player like Peyton Manning.
“What he said as a quarterback is you need to be the most everything,” Mendoza said. “You need to be the most competitive.
You have to have the most leadership. You need to be the toughest, mentally and physically.
You’ve got to embody all these things and lead by example before getting the respect from your teammates, in order to lead effectively. That really resonated with me.”
Brady also addressed the reality of Mendoza being selected first overall, saying, “Now you’re just a member of the team,” and adding, “Now you have to develop him. And I think most people, and probably a lot of fans, they think just because you get a player on the team, well, now he’s going to be great. No, there’s a lot of development that still needs to happen.”
In Other News...
Raiders Fans Wont Love This New Conflict Of Interest Twist
Mike Macdonald said he spoke with John Harbaugh before Super Bowl LX and found the conversation useful, with no conflict of interest attached to that advice. The Seattle coachs comments landed in the middle of a broader conversation about how tricky those lines can get when high-profile figures have one foot in the league and another in a teams front office picture.
For Raiders fans, the awkward part is obvious: Tom Bradys ownership stake keeps putting him near the center of personnel chatter, and the latest discussion has him tied to Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as a possible head coach target in Las Vegas. Bradys long Patriots history only adds to the optics, making every move around the Raiders feel like it comes with an extra layer of scrutiny that wont go away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Finally Have A Quarterback Plan Fans Can Believe In
The Raiders spent the offseason trying to do something they have rarely managed in recent years: build a quarterback room with both short-term credibility and a longer-term plan. Signing veteran Kirk Cousins gave Las Vegas a proven starter to steady the offense, while first overall pick Fernando Mendoza arrived as the future, and Aidan O'Connell was kept in the mix to deepen the group. Assistant head coach Mike McCoy has been encouraged by the way the three have approached the job, pointing to their work ethic and willingness to collaborate.
For a franchise that has too often lurched from one quarterback fix to the next, that kind of structure matters. The idea is to let Cousins bridge the gap while Mendoza develops, with the transition to the rookie expected to come later rather than sooner, and O'Connell gives the Raiders another layer of insurance if the plan needs adjusting. The real test now is whether the organization can keep that roadmap intact once the games start and the pressure to accelerate the timeline inevitably follows. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Young Corner Is Running Out Of Time To Prove It
Decamerion Richardsons spot with the Raiders has become one of the more interesting camp battles on the roster. The second-year corner has not done enough yet to separate himself, and after a wave of additions at the position, he is no longer being viewed as a comfortable part of the mix. For a player still trying to establish himself in the league, that kind of pressure can make every practice rep matter a little more.
Richardson now has to climb past a crowded group and convince the staff he belongs in the conversation for one of the final cornerback jobs. Training camp and preseason will be his best chance to change the picture, especially with the Raiders sorting through a depth chart that already looks crowded and could still shift if health or performance opens a door. If he cannot make a move soon, the path only gets narrower from here. [Read more 🡒]