Since the moment he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft, football fans across the country have been wondering when Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza will make his NFL debut.
As Las Vegas' training camp continues to roll on, that question remains to be answered.
Fernando Mendoza listed as Las Vegas' No. 2 QB on first preseason depth chart
Earlier this week, the Raiders released their first unofficial depth chart of training camp. The QB1 job currently belongs to 14-year NFL veteran Kirk Cousins, with Mendoza listed as the No. 2 quarterback. Aiden O'Connell is listed at No. 3 while Jacob Clark claims the No. 4 spot.
At this point in time, it seems like the Raiders will enter Week 1 with Cousins as their starting QB. Starting rookies from the jump has become a bit more commonplace in recent years, with players like Caleb Williams, Bryce Young, and Cam Ward all starting the season openers for their respective teams over the past couple seasons. That early experience and learning-on-fly approach can has plenty of pros and cons, but it's clear new head coach Klint Kubiak doesn't want to throw Mendoza straight into the fire.
Indiana finally gets the common sense ranking Hoosier fans have been asking for
While the Raiders seem to be content with starting the season with Cousins, it wouldn't be surprising to see Mendoza take over the starting job sooner rather than later.
Fernando Mendoza is the future franchise QB for the Raiders
There's no denying that Mendoza is the future franchise QB for the Raiders. Las Vegas is entering a new era under Kubiak, and put together a strong offseason that saw them acquire a good mix of talent. The strategy at this point in time appears to be adding talent around Mendoza, and then giving him an experienced mentor to sit back and learn from as he begins his NFL career. That's not such a bad strategy.
So while Mendoza hasn't done enough to take the starting job from Cousins, it is bound to happen at some time. Mendoza's upside is through the roof, and Kubiak has already been singing his praises throughout the offseason. All of his comments revolve around Mendoza being "as advertised," and seem to signal his excitement for coaching Mendoza in 2026 and beyond.
On the field, Mendoza is known for his elite football IQ, pin-point accuracy, strong athleticism, and NFL-ready frame at 6'5" 230 pounds. He orchestrated the best season in Indiana football history, and was at his best when it mattered most.
Off the field, Mendoza possesses elite intangibles that include an extreme dedication to preparation. He is also beloved by his teammates and undoubtedly has a team-first mentality. Just look at any of his interviews from this past season at Indiana. Mendoza is constantly taking the focus away from himself and giving it to his teammates.
All in all, Mendoza is in a great situation. It will be interesting to see how the rest of training camp goes, but no matter what happens, Hoosier fans should fully expect Mendoza to be Las Vegas' starting QB at some point this season.
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