Fernando Mendoza may have Tom Brady’s backing and the kind of talent that makes Raidersfans excited, but Las Vegas is not handing him the job yet.
The rookie quarterback has arrived with major attention after being drafted as the franchise’s future, and his early work at OTAs has only added to the intrigue.
Mendoza reportedly had just two incompletions during a sharp practice session, giving supporters reason to believe he can push faster than expected. But the Raiders’ quarterback order told a different story.
For now, Kirk Cousins remains the man at the front of the line, with Aidan O’Connell behind him and Mendoza still working from the bottom of the depth chart.
“To Mendoza’s credit, he said multiple times since he’s been drafted, he knows he is starting at the bottom of the totem pole. And that was clearly on display as OTA practice No.2 got underway,” noted NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz.
“Kirk Cousins was QB1, Aidan O’Connell, QB2, and then in a whole other practice field, seemingly in a galaxy far, far away, The Nandolorean was getting his work in with the third and fourth stringers.”
Cousins sets the early standard
That doesn’t mean Mendoza has done anything wrong. If anything, his acceptance of the process may help him in the long run.
The Raiders want him to develop, learn the system, and adjust to NFL speed without being rushed into a role he has not yet earned. Cousins gives them time to do that.
“He’s a professional,” Kubiak said of Cousins. “He’s played a lot of football. He’s a leader that we’re counting on right now. You see that side of him when it gets competitive.”
That is exactly what Las Vegas needs from a veteran quarterback in a room that also includes a high-profile rookie.
Raiders will let the competition decide
Mendoza’s ceiling still makes him the most fascinating quarterback in the building.
Brady’s support only increases that spotlight, because any endorsement from the seven-time Super Bowl champion carries weight, especially with a young passer trying to become the Raiders’ long-term answer.
But Las Vegas is not pretending the decision has already been made.
“It’s gonna reveal itself, especially in training camp,” Kubiak said when asked about the starting QB spot.
“It’s gonna reveal itself here in the next eight OTAs and these minicamp practices. We definitely would [like to name a starter], but we’ll let the players figure that out for us with their tape.”
Cousins has control of QB1 spot at the moment, but Mendoza has momentum, promise and patience, and the Raiders are making him climb the ladder properly.
