Raiders get good news on Fernando Mendoza amid franchise QB signs image
The Las Vegas Raiders had a disastrous 2025 NFL season, wound up with the No. 1 overall pick, and drafted Fernando Mendoza out of Indiana to, hopefully, become their franchise quarterback.
There is some uncertainty about who the Week 1 starter will be, but even if it's Kirk Cousins and not Mendoza, it's not an indictment of his status as the team's QB1 of the future. In fact, he might've already shown enough.
Ryan McFadden of ESPN highlighted one key takeaway from Mendoza's training camp and preseason so far that should have Raiders fans feeling very confident: Mendoza has shown "signs" of being a franchise quarterback.
Fernando Mendoza has shown signs of being a franchise QB for Raiders
"Mendoza might not be the Week 1 starter, but signs of him being a franchise quarterback are there," McFadden writes. "Throughout training camp, players and coaches have praised the Heisman Trophy winner's improved confidence."
McFadden highlighted how Mendoza is "unafraid of targeting tight windows" and his "firmer grasp on the system, resulting in better command of the offense," as two main reasons why there's more belief in the Raiders No. 1 pick being the franchise guy.
Mendoza has played in three preseason games this year, and he's had some mixed results, but overall, there's been some encouraging play from the rookie QB.
In his first preseason game, he went 10-for-16 for 97 yards with a touchdown and no picks. He also ran the ball twice for six yards in that game against the Arizona Cardinals.
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Then against the Houston Texans, Mendoza made his first mistake, throwing an interception that wound up being a pick-six. He ended the day 8-for-15 for 86 yards with no touchdowns.
Finally, in the preseason finale, Mendoza's last bit of work before Klint Kubiak makes a starting quarterback decision, he went 7-for-14 for 57 yards with no TDs, a pick, and two sacks taken for a loss of 20 yards. He ran twice for nine yards as well.
There is still clearly development to be made with Mendoza, but as a rookie, that's not a surprise or something to worry about.
The thing Raiders fans should focus on is McFadden's comment about how Mendoza has shown signs of being a franchise QB. Even if it comes with some mistakes this season, Mendoza turning into the franchise guy is all that matters.
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