Analysis: Fernando Mendoza aces first impression on field with Raiders

Editor's note: Este artículo está traducido al español.

Fernando Mendoza dropped back for one of his final reps in his second Raiders practice, went through his progressions and bulleted a tight window pass over the middle of the field into the hands of a tryout receiver.

A small gasp of excitement was audible from the collection of players and coaches lined up behind the action Saturday morning at the team’s Henderson headquarters. Mendoza was already making plays at the Raiders’ three-day rookie minicamp over the weekend.

“I think we saw a lot of improvement in everybody, including myself,” Mendoza said after Saturday’s practice.

All eyes were trained on the Heisman Trophy- and national championship-winning quarterback who went first overall in last month’s NFL Draft, and he didn’t give them any reason to stray.

Sure, he was operating with a barebones playbook alongside players who predominantly won’t be on Las Vegas’ roster next season, let alone for years to come when he’s expected to lead the franchise. But Mendoza made an impression.

The 22-year-old will need to be near-perfect to start right away for the Raiders next year, with the team having signed veteran Kirk Cousins and shared its preference for turning to a veteran at the outset of the season.

Rookie minicamp will play no role in deciding who’s taking the Week 1 snaps but, it is worth noting that Mendoza looked near perfect.

“We got the best quarterback in college football,” said fourth-round drafted cornerback Jermod McCoy, arguably the second most notable member of the Raiders’ rookie class. “And now (he’s) going to be the best in the league.”

Despite his pedigree, Mendoza was no guarantee to look as fluid and comfortable on the field in the one practice open to media so far.

Some may have even expected the opposite.

Many scouts have expressed concern about his lack of experience in a pro-style offense — a transition that has sunk far more quarterback careers than it’s lifted. But Mendoza hasn’t waited to address adjustments like primarily taking snaps from under center instead of in shotgun, or prioritizing cerebral decision-making over quick-strike delivery.

He revealed after the draft that he had scoured film from new Raiders coach Klint Kubiak’s previous offensive coordinator stops, specifically the 2021 Minnesota Vikings season with Cousins. He also trained pro-style concepts with fellow Miami native and quarterback Brian Griese, who has a Super Bowl ring in his trophy case.

Once in Las Vegas, he texted the centers or potential centers to get together to take extra snaps in the hotel ballroom, including third-round draft pick Trey Zuhn.

“He just connects with everybody,” Zuhn said of Mendoza. “He’s super friendly, easy to talk to and getting to know everybody. So, he’s a great leader, and I’m happy to be working with him.”

Mendoza brushed back the leadership talk, saying it’s not his place to declare himself as such and that he first needed to prove his mettle to his new teammates.

But Raiders general manager John Spytek has repeatedly said that quality was one of the biggest reasons he had no trepidation about taking Mendoza first overall. Spytek was particularly impressed by Mendoza’s relationship with his offensive linemen while in college at Indiana, which included weekly get-togethers on Sunday to watch the NFL.

He’s laying the groundwork for similar camaraderie in Las Vegas.

“The offensive line in the rookie camp has been phenomenal,” Mendoza said. “We’ve gotten extra work with all the centers and the quarterbacks the last two days. Everybody really wants to work, and it’s a great feeling. The other quarterbacks are really in tune, but I need more work under center.”

Mendoza will rely on players like Zuhn, a Texas A&M graduate who reiterated a belief that he can play any and all of the five offensive line positions in the NFL, to give him time to figure out his drop.

He singled out “the added footwork” as the single biggest adjustment he’s working on.

“You really have to get back to make sure you get depth so you can best serve your offensive linemen and still be on time, still decipher the defense,” Mendoza said. “And with that, it's really having an emphasis on those first two steps, on securing the snap and getting out of there, and (being) powerful with having quick feet.”

Even at a rookie practice, the defensive backfield wasn’t making it easy. It’s the position group the Raiders expended the most capital on in the draft.

Although McCoy didn’t practice aside from light drills as he continues to recover from a lingering knee injury, former University of Arizona teammates Treydan Stukes, a second-round pick, and Dalton Johnson, a fifth-round pick, were on the field throughout.

Mendoza singled out Stukes, his current locker-mate, as someone who will require particular sharpness playing against.

But, if his debut is any sign of things to come, Mendoza is up for the challenge.

“I’m super excited to be his teammate,” Stukes said. “I love the way he attacks his work.”