Having a Heisman feather in his hat, Fernando Mendoza has already picked up the buzz to be the Las Vegas Raiders' No.1 choice. But they ended up signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who will be the starting quarterback. That's when an NFL veteran chimed in with career advice for Mendoza, same as Patrick Mahomes.

In his appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, on April 11, NFL veteran Mike Mayock asked Mendoza to be patient. After all, it worked in the Super Bowl champion Mahomes' favor, too.

“Mahomes sat for a while in Kansas City. Every kid is different, and too many times in the NFL, we force first-round picks to play immediately. We bow to all the pressure,” he said. 

"He's got a high football IQ, and the way you figure it out is in practices and meeting rooms and preseason games. Can he run an operation from day A to Z?" he further added.

The problem in today’s NFL is pressure. Coaches and general managers often feel like they have to play first-round quarterbacks immediately to save their jobs. If they don’t have a franchise quarterback producing right away, there is a risk of getting fired. So teams rush young players onto the field before they are fully ready.

Mahomes was taken as the 10th pick in 2017 but spent his rookie year on the bench as the Kansas City Chiefs leaned on veteran Alex Smith during a playoff push.

“Learning behind him taught me how to build my own process,” Mahomes said in an interview about developing himself behind a veteran.

Did the patience pay off well for the City Chiefs' quarterback? Absolutely. Mahomes became the fastest in league history to reach 250 passing touchdowns.

Looks like the Riaders recognize it, too.  

The Raiders Are in favor to give Fernando Mendoza some time to adjust

Head coach Klint Kubaik and Cousins went on record to state that the franchise wants to ensure Mendoza does not succumb to the pressure.

“Ideally, you don't want him to start day one. You'd love him to be able to learn behind somebody,” Kubaik told reporters at the annual NFL meeting this year.

Like Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, too, had to sit behind Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre for three seasons, from 2005 to 2007.

Meanwhile, in Raiders, Mendoza is lucky to have Cousins, who is already open to being his mentor.

"I’m excited to get the chance to lead and help influence in the locker room and do my part, do my role, and just, most importantly, help our team win," he said.

Over the years, the Raiders have been going through a tough phase. They ended 2025 season with a 3-14 overall record after a 4-13 in 2024. If they pick Mendoza, he would be responsible for their future. And if the Raiders are giving him to adjust under Cousins' wings, it's a blessing in disguise.

What do you think of the veteran's advice for Mendoza? Share your thoughts.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar