Fernando Mendoza is already getting the attention of one of the best QBs in the league, and he’s not even gotten many first-team reps yet
The Las Vegas Raiders have a young stud quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, and Joe Burrow is ready to watch him.
The Las Vegas Raiders have the opportunity to completely turn their franchise around. They’ve got their rookie quarterback set to be the franchise guy in Fernando Mendoza. And the roster seems to be improving by the minute.
And Mendoza has already started getting the attention of his peers around the league. It feels like even the players are just eager to see him play. Joe Burrow, one of the best quarterbacks in the league, is ready to see him play.
“He was a lot of fun to watch,” Burrow said. “I think the NIL era is interesting because teams like Indiana, who maybe couldn’t get the recruits 10 years ago, now can get the types of players where they can go and compete for championships. That creates a lot of parity throughout college football, and I think that’s good for the game.
“There are a lot of downsides to it as well, but it was fun to see a team like Indiana go and make it happen. Obviously, Fernando was the main part of that. The quarterback has the ball in their hands a lot. It’s a team game, but the quarterback drives that for us. He seems to be a great leader. He seems to be a great player, and I’m excited to see what he does in the NFL as well.”
Fernando Mendoza will have to work his way up to showcase his skills
Mendoza began minicamp as the third-string quarterback, taking snaps with the backups. Cousins handled all the first-team reps, while Aidan O’Connell worked with the second unit—a pecking order that’s expected to continue into training camp.
Mendoza has openly acknowledged his place in the depth chart, noting that he’s currently taking reps with the third string and working his way up. Coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator John Spytek have expressed a preference for letting a veteran quarterback start before giving the rookie an opportunity.
The strongest case for starting Mendoza immediately is his impressive pedigree: he was the No. 1 overall pick, a former Heisman Trophy winner, and a national champion at Indiana. His connection with Tom Brady has been evident all offseason. Still, the Raiders are determined to avoid past mistakes and won’t rush the process this time.