Fernando Mendoza is expected to develop into a franchise quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. That’s always the plan when an NFL organization uses the first overall pick on a quarterback. Mendoza, coming off a Heisman Trophy-winning campaign at Indiana that ended with him hoisting a national championship trophy, seems to have the talent and makeup necessary to succeed at the professional level. Yet it’s not always a guarantee that the top pick makes good on high expectations.
The Raiders are going about the process of seasoning their valuable new asset a bit differently than teams who have simply handed a rookie the reins. By bringing in veteran gunslinger Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas has put in place a system where Mendoza can develop and learn from someone with a lot experience. The hope is that that method will produce better results in the long run.
MORE: Projecting the Week 1 starter at QB for every NFL team
Still, Cousins carries a bit of a cap on excitement for fans who desperately want the next big thing. It’s perfectly understandable for Raiders supporters who haven’t enjoyed much recent success to pine for Mendoza to start.
And Mendoza showcased some solid skills during his preseason debut on Thursday night. In his first real NFL action the rookie completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. He did show some rawness in taking a sack he didn’t need to and wasn’t perfectly accurate, but it was still impressive. Cousins, meanwhile, connected on five of his six throws, including a score.
Head coach Klint Kubiak made it entirely clear postgame that nothing about the Raiders’ plan had changed.
“Kirk’s been getting the reps with the ones. I think he’s had a solid training camp and it’s his job to lose,” Kubiak said.
That’s quite definitive. And it’s hard to imagine Cousins doing anything at this stage of his career to lose the job. He is nothing if not competent.
Honestly, I like this mode of operation. There will be plenty of chances for Mendoza to start as the season progresses and Las Vegas probably isn’t going to compete for a playoff spot anyway. The last thing a team wants to do is see their top pick struggle immediately because then they have to weigh the consequences of benching them.
So the process is working. For now.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —