Indiana Hoosiers’ Fernando Mendoza was touted to be the definite round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders and their starting quarterback. But signing veteran QB Kirk Cousins throws a spanner in the works. What's next for Mendoza?

Well, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has an answer, and it is for Mendoza’s good.

“Ideally, you don't want him to start day one. You'd love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That's in a perfect world,” Kubiak said Tuesday at the annual NFL meeting. 

That could be the right move. Take last season's number 1 pick, Cam Ward. The first half of the season felt wobbly for the Titans QB. He struggled to make an impact, barely going over a touchdown in each game. The Titans had a 1-11 record. However, once he found his footing, we saw better performances, with two wins coming in the final few weeks of the season.

Moreover, the Raiders' squad depth needs to bring in a veteran. They already lost Geno Smith to the New York Jets. Going into a rebuild, putting the pressure on a young QB like Mendoza could have a dramatic effect on the team's performance. That's why Kubiak added:

“It doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from day one, and it's our job as a coach to get them ready to go. “I think it does help the player, though, if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.” 

The Pro League can be unpredictable, and the pressure could get unbearable. That’s why the Raiders are making efforts to ensure Mendoza’s talents are utilized appropriately. 

Mendoza’s Performance Gave Rise to Big Expectations, Which He Must Fulfil

The 22-year-old is predicted as the No.1 overall pick in the 2026 draft by the Raiders after his commendable run with Indiana. With a completion rate of 72.0 percent, Mendoza scored 41 touchdowns (TDs) for 3,535 yards against only six interceptions.

He also racked up 7 rushing TDs for 276 yards, hinting he could be a formidable dual-threat quarterback. The 2025 NCAA champion also won the Heisman Trophy. During Indiana’s biggest pro day, Mendoza shared that it went well.

“I feel like it went great,” Mendoza said. “You know, quarterbacks have passed, have done shorter pro days than that. However, I just wanted to make sure everybody could showcase their abilities in front of all 32 NFL teams.”

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar