Fernando Mendoza officially signs rookie contract
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is currently playing behind veteran Kirk Cousins, who is expected to start Week 1, but Mendoza is gaining experience and may take over during the season.
- Mendoza is focusing on mastering snaps from under center, an area he rarely practiced in college, and has shown significant improvement in footwork and timing.
- Coaches, including head coach Klint Kubiak and minority owner Tom Brady, support allowing Mendoza to develop behind Cousins initially, with no set timeline for Mendoza's starting debut.
- Mendoza’s playing style is praised for accuracy and decision-making, though concerns exist about his arm strength and improvisational skills; comparisons have been made to Joe Burrow and early-career Ben Roethlisberger.
- The Raiders plan for Cousins to mentor Mendoza throughout the 2026 season, with a potential full transition to Mendoza as the starter expected in 2027, though an earlier switch during the current season remains possible.
