04/24/26 07:49:00
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04/24 19:47 CDT New Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza ready to prove he was worthy of
No. 1 draft pick
New Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza ready to prove he was worthy of No. 1 draft pick
By MARK ANDERSON
AP Sports Writer
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) --- Fernando Mendoza sounded Friday like he was ready to
get down to business and prove he was worthy of being the top pick in the NFL
draft.
But the Heisman Trophy winner had been working on making a strong impression
long before he arrived in Las Vegas to be formally introduced by the Raiders.
He worked with former quarterback Brian Griese --- both attended the same Miami
high school --- on what his role in the West Coast offense could look like,
giving him a head start in preparing for a similar system used by new Raiders
coach Klint Kubiak.
"I needed some guidance on how to become the best NFL quarterback," Mendoza
said. "Not just for a pro day or the combine, for September, October, December.
With that, we went over some general under-center concepts and installed basic
bread-and-butter concepts that any team would have."
That dedication and mental approach to the game, as well as Mendoza's physical
traits, sold management on the idea that he was the quarterback the franchise
has long searched for in hopes of returning to the days when the Raiders were
regular contenders.
General manager John Spytek marveled at Mendoza's ability to recall plays from
even early in the season at Indiana. Spytek didn't have to hit the play button
while they watched video before Mendoza not only recognized the play, but
explained it in detail. Mendoza also acknowledged those plays that didn't go
well and what he might have done differently.
"There was an honesty and a self-awareness to it," Spytek said. "I've been a
part of a few other quarterback interviews like that before, but not very many."
Much has been made of how quickly Mendoza can transition from a college system
in which he was in the shotgun nearly every down to an offense in which he will
be under center the vast majority of snaps.
"His skill-set fits with any offense in professional football," Kubiak said.
"The No. 1 thing that I love about Fernando is his leadership, the way that he
relates to his teammates and his ability to win. We're looking for a competitor
to be our quarterback, and he went 16-0 last year with a heck of a team, and he
led that group."
Mendoza's focus in Las Vegas will be to learn from veteran quarterback Kirk
Cousins, whom the Raiders signed earlier this month, and to begin to live up to
the expectations of being the first-overall pick. Kubiak and Spytek have talked
about how they don't want to throw a rookie right into the starting lineup, but
also said the best player will get the job.
Mendoza also has another mission. He is launching the Mendoza Family Fund,
contributing $500,000 out of his pocket, to try to find a cure for multiple
sclerosis. His mother, Elsa, uses a wheelchair because of MS, but made the
cross-country trip with her family to Las Vegas for Mendoza's first full day
with the Raiders.
"I believe one of my pillars and my identities is giving back and helping fight
MS, giving to the community," Mendoza said. "So that was a huge part of my
identity, and it's something that our family really wanted to do."
He credited his mother with helping revive his football career.
Mendoza was mostly overlooked coming out of high school and spent three years
at California, redshirting in 2022 and then starting most of the following two
seasons. After earning a bachelor's degree in just more than three years, he
transferred to Indiana and put together his breakout season as he led the
Hoosiers to the national championship.
"My mom always saw more in me than I saw myself at that time, and she
essentially pushed me to take a swing at trying to become a great NFL player,"
Mendoza said. "That first step was transferring and challenging myself by being
in an uncomfortable environment. When you're uncomfortable, you're able to grow.
"She said, ?Hey, if you step to the plate, if you swing and you miss, at least
in 20 years you knew you did everything possible to try to accomplish your
dream.' And I stepped to the plate, and luckily enough, I was able to hit a
home run last year."
The Raiders hope there are plenty of long balls left.
Kubiak raved about watching Mendoza at his Indiana pro day on April 1 as he
directed his receivers on which routes to run and then delivered on-target
passes.
"Then took him upstairs and talked football with him and just listened to him
communicate the game and how quickly he picked things up," Kubiak said. "We
already liked how he played the game on film, but seeing him in person was
really helpful, and it allowed us to watch film on a lot of other guys. We knew
we had the guy."
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