US EditionNFL Draft Sees Surprises Galore After Raiders' Fernando Mendoza Slam Dunk
The Raiders are building around the rookie with a veteran mentor and roster upgrades, including a run game that ranked last at 78.6 yards per game since 2024.
- On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders selected Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, marking the first signal-caller drafted on Day 1 since JaMarcus Russell in 2007.
- Following years of quarterback instability since parting with Derek Carr after 2022, the Raiders hired head coach Klint Kubiak in February to install a balanced system combining play-action passing and outside-zone running.
- General manager John Spytek and Kubiak prefer not to start a rookie immediately; the team signed veteran Kirk Cousins to his 15th NFL season to mentor Mendoza and provide insurance during the transition.
- Success for Mendoza requires significant roster improvements; the Raiders rank last in rushing yards per game at 78.6 since 2024, a deficiency they aim to address with nine remaining draft picks.
- Mendoza remains the team's long-term answer at quarterback; by allowing the rookie to develop behind Cousins, Las Vegas hopes to build consistent contention in the AFC West despite the organization's historical quarterback struggles.
29 Articles
29 Articles
The Billings Gazette
NFL draft sees surprises galore after Raiders' Fernando Mendoza slam dunk
What the Raiders' top pick lacked in suspense, the rest of the top 10 made up for with surprises.
Kirk Morrison Issues Clear Statement on Raiders QB Situation
The Las Vegas Raiders have upgraded their QB situation from last season, when they had Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett start games. Over this offseason, the Silver and Black signed veteran Kirk Cousins and drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.Now, the question surrounding the Raiders will be who starts Week 1? Will new head coach Klint Kubiak allow Mendoza to watch and learn behind Cousins, or, if the rookie QB is clearly better tha…
Raiders set up Fernando Mendoza for success long before he went No. 1 in 2026 NFL Draft
The Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Heisman Trophy winner is considered the cornerstone of a revival led by minority owner Tom Brady.
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