Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
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The 2026 NFL Draft isn’t until April, but the Las Vegas Raiders will be receiving takes left and right regarding former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza.
Mendozais projected to go first overall, and with the scouting combine a few days away, comparisons are emerging about the type of QB the Silver and Black are getting should they decide to take him.
CBS Sports’ Emory Hunt appeared on theFeb. 17 edition of the Ross Tucker Podcast and spotlighted a trait that reminds him of a signal-caller who is very familiar to the Raiders, considering they play him twice a year in the division.
“Issues can happen when things change post-snap,” Hunt said. “We saw that creep up a couple of times when teams were able to take away that first option because of the RPOs and things of that nature. He gets to hold the football, and he doesn’t feel pressure well. He’s very Justin Herbert-like in how he feels that blindside pressure. He just stands there, and he’s going to take a hit.
“What I also like about him is that he does show the athleticism to go and get the first down, to cheap yards. It may look ugly, it may look uncoordinated, but it’s effective. He could pick them up and put them down. We’ve seen that a couple of times throughout the course of his time at Indiana.”
Mendoza posted a passer rating of 182.9 with 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 16 games in 2025, per StatMuse. As a result of this production, he would go on to win the Heisman Trophy.He would also help lead Indiana to the national title, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide, Oregon Ducks, and Miami Hurricanes in the process.
Fernando Mendoza Gets Major Praise Over Arm Talent
Moreover, Hunt highlighted the arm strength needed to succeed in the NFL and make the deep passes that Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak will expect of him should the team select him.
“He’s another one that’s a point-guard passer and a point-and-shoot type passer.I think he does a great jobin terms of identifying and deliveringright on time… He’s a high-velocity guy. So that’s why I found it funny when people were talking about arm strength. I was like, he’s got an arm, and he can stretch the field in terms of outside-the-numbers, far-half throws. He can make those throws, and he can make them quicklyto where it beats tight coverage.
“So that’s why he’s able to make the throws that he’s able to make. I know it’s frustrating for a defense because you can’t beat the perfect throw, especially when it comes with a lot of velocity he has. I also think he has a good combination of footwork and technique, and everything is how you teach it, how you coach it up. Almost like he’s a robot out there in terms of hitting his backdrop, he sees it, and the ball comes out.”
Can Raiders Help Fernando Mendoza Succeed in NFL?
Although the Raiders look to be heading in the right direction with the new look coaching staff, FS1 host Colin Cowherd remains skeptical that Las Vegas can get it right to help Mendoza succeed in the NFL.
“I look at Caleb Williams, his first year, hit all sorts of sacks and negative plays,”Cowherd said on the Feb. 16 edition of “The Herd.” “Why would that be? Because his coach stunk. I don’t worry about Fernando Mendoza. I worry about the Raiders as his parent in this league.
“Bad offensive line. Even if Klint Kubiak is a good coach, he’ll probably be the fourth‑best coach in his division. Ownership is impulsive and ridiculously impatient. I don’t have a Mendoza issue. I have a Mendoza‑to‑the‑Raiders issue.”