Any long-suffering Las Vegas Raiders fan who saw the rookie first-round pick's outing, preseason or not, would have similarly thanked God.Because the Raiders have something here."First, I want to thank God and my teammates and coaches for allowing me the opportunity," Mendoza told reporters."Today was an invigorating experience where there's not many moments where you feel fully alive, and on the field is when you feel fully alive, especially in the NFL atmosphere.EX-NFL STAR CALLS FERNANDO MENDOZA 'THE MOST COMPLETE PLAYER' OF THE 2026 DRAFT"So I want to give thanks for that.
It was great to get out there, get my feet wet ..I think it was a good experience."Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected as the No.
1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, attends a news conference at the Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nev., on April 24, 2026.(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)Anyone who watched would know Mendoza played well and if you didn't watch, be confident that his 100.3 quarterback rating and TD pass without a turnover in his nearly three quarters of work was impressive."As far as getting in and out of the huddle and commanding the group and getting the play-calls down, I saw the same guy we've seen in practice," coach Klint Kubiak said.
"I saw an ascending player."And this is where the temptation is going to be to overreact and start the discussion about Mendoza supplanting veteran Kirk Cousins as the Las Vegas starting quarterback.That throw Mendoza made in the first half between two defenders downfield between the hashmarks and numbers was elite.It's the kind of throw that demands opportunities in the regular season.But the Raiders will resist the temptation to have Mendoza run before he walks.
The Raiders expect to go with Cousins as their starter unless something drastic happens.ZERO BS.JUST DAKICH.
TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD.DOWNLOAD NOW!"Kirk has been getting the reps with the ones," Kubiak said.
"I think he's had a solid...