Fernando “Rapidly” Picking Up Raiders Offense, ESPN Analyst Says

The NFL draft a little less than three weeks away, and every indication is that the Raiders are going to take Fernando Mendoza with the no. 1 pick.

Newly signed quarterback Kirk Cousins was the latest to essentially confirm Mendoza is going to be the Raiders’ pick, and several reports have indicated Mendoza is already learning head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense.

“Fernando Mendoza is working with Brian Griese right now and it’s not so much that they are working on foot work, they’re installing the Raiders offense,” NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said on the Pat McAfee Show last week.

“He’s full speed ahead,” Jeremiah continued. “This is the same thing that happened with [Joe] Burrow where you can use this time to really try and learn a lot of the core verbiage and concepts along with an offense. I’d be shocked, stunned, astonished if he’s not the first overall pick. I don’t see that going any other direction.”

With Cousins in the quarterback room, Mendoza may not open the season atop the depth chart—but it won’t be due to a lack of preparation on his part.

Despite some saying Mendoza won’t be a great fit for the new offense in Las Vegas, ESPN’s Louis Riddick said the Heisman winning quarterback has been picking up Kubiak’s offense extremely well.

“Fernando Mendoza is working with an ex QB/QB Coach that played in and very recently coached the current version of the ‘West Coast’ offense that Fernando would be running in Las Vegas,” Riddick posted on X on Monday. “And, from what I am told, he is picking it up RAPIDLY.”

Cousins talked on Wednesday about his unique role with the Raiders, and the 14-year NFL veteran said he will have no problem taking a backseat role to Mendoza if he isn’t the best option.

“I don’t want to start unless I’m the best option,” Cousins said on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football.

“I told Klint [Kubiak] that. The best player should play, but as long as that’s the case I have no qualms with however it plays out… I have no problem being a voice in the room to kind of help him to the degree that I can. He’s going to have great support all around him from the coaching staff [and] being able to watch a veteran quarterback go through his habits, routines and process. I think I can be a great asset for him.”

Good Morning Football on X (formerly Twitter): “”I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team” 💪@KirkCousins8 on the possibility of getting to work with @fernandomendoza on the @Raiders pic.twitter.com/S8zK7YzChs / X”

“I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team” 💪@KirkCousins8 on the possibility of getting to work with @fernandomendoza on the @Raiders pic.twitter.com/S8zK7YzChs

x: @raidersbeat