Fernando Mendoza Poised to Join Raiders
Fernando Mendoza may soon call Las Vegas his first NFL home. If he gets drafted by the Raiders, his time on the field, at least initially, could be limited, as head coach Clint Kubiak might prefer he learn the ropes before jumping into games.
Mendoza, who led Indiana to its inaugural College Football Playoff national championship this January, is anticipated to be the No. 1 pick overall in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Kubiak came on board as the Raiders’ head coach this past February, not long after he played a key role in securing the Seattle Seahawks’ second Super Bowl title as their offensive coordinator.
The new coach holds the belief that young quarterbacks stand to gain a lot from watching seasoned players before they get their shot in a game setting. “Ideally, I don’t want him to start from day one,” Kubiak said, talking to the press. “You hope he can learn behind someone. That would be perfect, but, well, sometimes that’s not how it works. And our duty as coaches is to prepare them.”
Kubiak elaborated that having a young player observe a more experienced quarterback can be incredibly beneficial. He mentioned that it’s helpful for a player to see how a mature leader operates.
Aidan O’Connell is currently the only quarterback left on the Raiders’ roster after trades that sent Geno Smith away and Kenny Pickett to the Panthers. Meanwhile, several veteran quarterbacks, like Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Russell Wilson, remain free agents.
Historically, the Raiders’ playoff journey can be traced back to the 2002 season, a memorable time when they clinched the AFC Championship.
Kubiak praised Mendoza, highlighting his accomplishments. “He’s a national champion. He gets the job done,” Kubiak remarked. “He’s quick, he’s intelligent.”
On the defensive side, the Raiders are still set with five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby after his intended trade with the Baltimore Ravens fell through due to a medical issue.
In an interesting development, Kubiak expressed delight upon learning from general manager John Spytek that Crosby would be remaining with the team. “We got Max back. Seriously? That’s fantastic! The team just got better,” he stated.
