Rookie QB Fernando Mendoza is already realizing who he needs to make his best friend on the Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders have their rookie quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, and he already loves Tyler Linderbaum.
The Las Vegas Raiders enter 2026 with a roster that looks worlds better than the group that managed just three wins last season.
A major reason for that optimism starts up front with center Tyler Linderbaum, the highest-paid center in the NFL after the Raiders made him that in free agency. Linderbaum’s arrival transforms an offensive line that ranked among the league’s worst in 2025, and his new quarterback already sounds like a believer. Mendoza recently appeared on Maxx Crosby’s podcast, The Rush with Maxx Crosby, and made his feelings about the new center clear.
“He’s the man. There’s no other way to put it. I love him,” Mendoza said when speaking about Linderbaum.
That kind of early chemistry matters. Whether it’s Mendoza or Kirk Cousins taking snaps in Week 1, the Raiders now have a legitimate anchor at center who excels in both pass protection and the run game. That’s a significant upgrade from what Las Vegas trotted out a season ago, when the offensive line was a liability on nearly every snap.
Linderbaum changes everything for the Raiders offense
The signing of Linderbaum does more than just fill a roster hole. It changes the math for the entire offense. The running game should improve with a center who consistently wins at the point of attack and creates movement in the ground game. The passing game benefits from a player who can identify pressure, make protection calls, and hold up against interior rushers.
Las Vegas also addressed offensive line depth this offseason, giving the unit more quality options than it had at any point in 2025. The combination of Linderbaum’s talent and better depth across the line means the Raiders should be able to sustain drives and protect their quarterback at a much higher level.
Linderbaum, by all accounts, has embraced the Raiders’ culture quickly. He understands what the organization expects and the standard attached to wearing those colors. For a team trying to rebuild its identity, that kind of buy-in from a high-profile free agent signing sets the tone.
How much can the Raiders improve in 2026?
The realistic ceiling for Las Vegas probably falls short of the playoffs. But doubling last season’s win total shouldn’t be difficult, and the Raiders could go beyond that with the talent they’ve added. The quarterback situation will sort itself out over time. Cousins provides a steady veteran presence while Mendoza develops into the franchise quarterback the organization believes he can become.
Regardless of who lines up under center on game days, Linderbaum will be the constant. He’s the kind of player who elevates everyone around him, and the Raiders needed exactly that after the way 2025 played out. Las Vegas won’t contend for a championship this fall, but the foundation looks dramatically different than it did 12 months ago. Getting close to contention in 2026 would represent real progress, and Linderbaum is a central reason why that’s now a realistic goal.