Former Raiders GM Mike Mayock slightly compares Fernando Mendoza to a potential Hall of Famer
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to finally get their franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza. Vegas hasn’t had that in quite some time. Mendoza can be that and some, as he has all of the traits to be an elite quarterback in the NFL. Don’t let the Raiders’ decision to potentially start Kirk Cousins in […]
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to finally get their franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza. Vegas hasn’t had that in quite some time. Mendoza can be that and some, as he has all of the traits to be an elite quarterback in the NFL.
Don’t let the Raiders’ decision to potentially start Kirk Cousins in Week 1 sway the way you feel about the rookie QB. He is not the greatest QB prospect we have ever seen, and not really near the top. But there’s not much reason to say he can’t become one of the best in the league in the next few years. In fact, a former Raiders GM is already comparing Mendoza to a quarterback who could find his way to the Hall of Fame.
“(He has) Got a good arm, can drive it back-shoulder, at a high level, accurate at all three levels,” former Raiders GM Mike Mayock said. “This is the key to me. He’s at his best when his best is necessary. I call it a quarterback nervous system. When I’m watching quarterback tape and when I get done three or four or five full games, and I get to the situations where it’s like third down, red zone, goal line, fourth quarter, you want to see what that nervous system looks like, especially in big games…
“What he did in that Penn State game was off the charts with a throw to Omar Cooper in the end zone to win the football game. The numbers aren’t overwhelming; they don’t throw it as much as other teams. But he was at his best in the fourth quarter of the National Championship game. The more I watched him, the more I liked him, respected him, and the more he reminded me of a young Matt Ryan. He’s a baby-faced assassin with great intangibles.”
Ryan was not the most talented quarterback in the NFL in any given year. However, he had everything you need intangibly to become an NFL MVP. Of course, Ryan also had some fantastic weapons along the way. Regardless, his total body of work says he could become a Hall of Famer. That is no light comparison for Mendoza. If the rookie QB ends up being what Ryan was, you can say that’s a successful career.
Former Raiders GM Mike Mayock knows how to scout talent
From 2019-2021, Mayock found some really nice players throughout the draft. Despite some of the misses he’s had, you can make the case that Mayock knows how to scout. Sure, he missed on guys like Clelin Ferrell, Henry Ruggs, and Damon Arnette. But every GM has some picks that they miss on.
Mayock drafted four very good players, given where he selected them in the draft. Max Crosby is the most notable, as he was a fourth-round pick in 2019. No one thought Crosby would be what he is today, but Mayock saw something in him. Mayock also drafted former running back Josh Jacobs and two pretty good fifth-round picks in Hunter Renfrow and Nate Hobbs.
Mayock’s evaluation of Mendoza may be a complete miss for all we know. However, he has a good enough resume to somewhat trust what he’s seeing and saying about the former Indiana quarterback.
