Las Vegas Raiders HC Klint Kubiak broke down the evaluation process for rookie QB Fernando Mendoza during training camp
The Las Vegas Raiders are going to go through training camp while evaluating Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins.
The Las Vegas Raiders have to be excited to see their team in full effect during training camp on Wednesday. Rookie head coach Klint Kubiak has already mentioned that he intends to make Kirk Cousins, the veteran QB, the starter at the start of training camp.
But that doesn’t mean Mendoza won’t be the starter at some point during training camp. Kubiak also mentioned that every day will be different, with the QBs rotating snaps between the starters, second string, and third string. This will allow the Raiders to truly evaluate their No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza. But how does that look? What is the Raiders’ process for evaluating their future franchise guy?
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak breaks down the evaluation process for Mendoza
“In the evaluation process, I’d say he works harder than anyone else we were around. But that doesn’t guarantee you anything. The way he prepares in the meeting room is what you want,” Kubiak told reporters on Tuesday. “It’s not just charting picks and comp percentage. We have put a lot on his plate, so the things that stand out are: he has a lot of adversity, so does he make the same mistake twice, and how does he respond?”
Mendoza earned the top spot in the draft because of his impressive résumé, including a Heisman Trophy and a recent National Championship with Indiana. He’s expected to be the future cornerstone of the franchise, but that doesn’t guarantee an immediate starting role—particularly if the coaching staff believes he needs more development. Mendoza is likely to take over eventually, and it’s possible he could start more games in 2026 than Cousins.
However, he has to get to that level first. The NFL is much different than the college football level. And that’s not to say he couldn’t play in the game right now, because he probably could. But they want him to be ready. And he will be, eventually. But this training camp is maybe the most important part of his career right now. This evaluation process is crucial.