Hall of Fame quarterback has a powerful feeling regarding Raiders rookie QB Fernando Mendoza after second preseason game
The Las Vegas Raiders have their guy at quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, and Troy Aikman loves what he’s seeing.
The Las Vegas Raiders have to love what they’ve been seeing from Fernando Mendoza, their rookie quarterback, and other people are noticing too. You know something special is brewing when a Hall of Fame quarterback compliments your No. 1 overall pick after just two preseason appearances.
That’s exactly what happened Thursday night, when former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl champion, shared his thoughts after calling the Raiders’ second preseason game against the Houston Texans on ESPN.
“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, but he has shown me already in such a short time that this young man is capable of being a really great player in this league,” Aikman said.
Aikman is hitting the nail on the head. Everyone should take something from what he’s saying, because while the talent is obvious, you don’t want to get too far ahead of yourself. Mendoza hasn’t played an actual NFL game yet. He’s played two preseason games, and in both, there have been some ups and some downs. For the most part, though, it’s looked good.
The good and the bad from Thursday’s game
The one clear negative from Thursday’s game was the pick-six. But you could make the case that interception wasn’t entirely Mendoza’s fault. Running back Mike Washington likely was supposed to sit at the top of that route. On top of that, Mendoza was pressured all night because the offensive line kept putting him in bad situations.
On the good side of things, Mendoza had some really impressive throws. He connected with Jalen Nailor to start an offensive drive, fitting the ball into a tight window. He also delivered a big throw to Malik Benson on third-and-17 that converted for a first down. Even with the constant pressure, Mendoza looked poised in the pocket. That composure is one of those qualities you love to see in a preseason game as a rookie gets ready to eventually start in the regular season.
Patience remains the key for Las Vegas
Kirk Cousins is going to be the starter when the regular season begins, and that’s why everyone needs to pump the brakes a little. Cousins will start, and Mendoza will eventually come in and take over. When that happens, nobody really knows. But the Raiders are building around Mendoza as their long-term quarterback. He is the franchise guy. He’s the future of the franchise, and he may well be the future of the league.
It’s just about being patient. Everything is there on the table for the taking, and what Aikman saw Thursday night only confirms what Las Vegas already knows about its rookie signal-caller.
