Fernando Mendoza, Indiana Hoosiers
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(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Raiders were able to get another up-close view of Fernando Mendoza on his pro day. With the NFL Draft looming at the end of April, the Silver and Black are in the final stretch as they determine who to take with the No. 1 pick.
All signs point to Mendoza being that selection and becoming the Raiders’ franchise QB. With the former Indiana Hoosiers QB making his throws on April 1 with the Las Vegas leadership watching, it was another opportunity to show that he’s the No. 1 pick and a player that the team can build around.
Following his pro day, Mendoza spoke with the media and shared his thoughts on how he plans to wow the Raiders and other NFL teams as the draft approaches at the end of April.
“I’m just trying to be the best quarterback come September, so today was cool,” Mendoza said (h/tAnthony Calhoun of WISH-TV). “There were a little bit of nerves right before, but those nerves mean I’m ready. Those nerves turn into energy for the workout and to be a better quarterback. In that sense, there were nerves, but for me it wasn’t very high stakes. I was just having fun with the guys.”
NFL Analyst Doesn’t Hold Back on Fernando Mendoza
After Mendoza’s Pro Day wrapped up, ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick shared what he saw from Mendoza.
“It’s really his presence,”Riddick said on the April 1 edition of “NFL Live.” “He comes off, and a lot of it is the unspoken, intangible part of the evaluation that you get and that really jumps out at you when you are around this young man.
“We can talk about how smooth he looked working from a simulated under‑center snap, what his footwork looked like, and how consistently on balance he appeared, how tight the spiral was during his warm‑ups, and for the majority of his workout.
“We can talk about all of that, but it’s the way he commanded himself from the time he walked out on the field until the time he came over here, sat down, and answered the questions that he answered. It just kind of oozed franchise-caliber quarterback type of stuff. And that’s an important part of what he’s going to be asked to do, which is to really take charge.”
Raiders Will Look to Bolster QB Depth
The Raiders were looking to add a veteran in Joe Flacco, but he decided to stay with theCincinnati Bengals. As a result, it appears that the Silver and Black want a veteran signal caller to go with Aidan O’Connell and likely Mendoza.
On March 30,Raiders general manager John Spytek spoke with reporters and shared an update on the team’s plan to improve the QB position as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.
“Aidan’s played a lot of good football in this league, “ Spytek said. “He’s started, he’s thrown for 300 yards in games. He’s a great teammate, works his tail off, and he’s smart.
“Obviously, he’s the only quarterback on the roster right now, and at a premium position, I think it’s a fair question to ask. We’re considering a bunch of different things right now, and I think we’ll have some answers here in the coming weeks.”