Fernando Mendoza is set to begin his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Raiders picked Mendoza as the first overall selection in the 2026 draft after he led the Indiana Hoosiers through a flawless 2025 season, resulting in a national championship. Along with these achievements, Mendoza also claimed the Heisman Trophy, yet he recognizes the need to adapt to the NFL.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator, Andrew Janocko, recently engaged with quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins during a minicamp at the Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nevada.
“I think what he said as a quarterback is you need to be the most everything. You need to be the most competitive. You need to be the most leader. You have to have the most leadership,” Mendoza shared through the Raiders’ YouTube page regarding advice from Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.
Mental and physical toughness are essential, Brady stressed. Leading by example is vital before earning the respect and trust necessary to guide teammates.
Mendoza will also have Kirk Cousins as a resource, though Cousins views their interaction as mutually beneficial rather than a mentor-mentee relationship. “I’m learning a lot from them too and asking questions,” Cousins remarked through The Athletic.
It remains uncertain if Mendoza will start in Week 1, as Cousins, who signed a two-year, $12.6 million deal with the Raiders, is still in form.
This dynamic highlights the Raiders’ reliance on both experience and fresh talent entering the new season.
Leave a Reply