Fernando Mendoza Fuels Raiders QB Hype After Strong Showing

PHOENIX, AZ—The Las Vegas Raiders showed itself today in Bloomington, Indiana, as ten members of the Silver and Black franchise gathered to watch presumed number one overall selection QB Fernando Mendoza’s pro day.

The Raiders organization had ten members in Bloomington today, including GM John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak. They are also taking Mendoza out to dinner tonight as well.

The Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion showed everything anyone could ask for, and we have a breakdown of not only what you could have seen live on national television, but also what we learned from those in the building.

Intangibles

Everyone is well aware of what Fernando Mendoza can and does do. But sometimes going beyond the highlights and the wins and losses can paint an even bigger picture.

At nearly 6’5” and just short of 240 pounds, Mendoza showed off the sculpting of his body, and what sets him apart, having the size and body to compete at the level the National Football League (NFL) mandates. One scout at the event said, “He looks enormous, much bigger with the naked eye than I thought.”

Mendoza’s script of 56 throws didn’t have any redone pass-specific plays. Is that surprising? Not at all. He had 27 touchdown passes in the red zone and zero interceptions. Watch the tape for yourself. He didn't need to throw any, with pads on, during the biggest moments of the year against the best competition; he was nearly perfect. Next.

Mendoza threw this year for over 3,500 yards and had 41 touchdowns. That is highly impressive, but there is one intangible that sets the young man apart. He threw only six interceptions against some of the best competition in college football.

Highlights, Observations, Analysis

Under Center

Several pundits have questioned whether Mendoza could play under center. To question what a player can do outside the real paradigm of what they are asked to do is pure foolishness. The Curt Cignetti offense doesn’t ask the quarterback to work under center; that doesn’t mean Mendoza can’t. He worked multiple reps doing so today and looked fluid. Did he look like a tenured veteran? Of course not, but no one does at this stage in their career.

GM John Spytek talked about young quarterbacks (read Mendoza) adapting to playing regularly in the college shotgun to under center in the NFL/

"If they can take a snap from under center right now? It's the hardest position to evaluate. So much is required of those guys, and trying to have a vision for how they played in whatever offense they were asked to run in college and how they're going to fit into ours, and then how they're going to handle the pressure that comes with being one-of-32 in the world is a lot.”

Peyton Manning

Make no mistake, Fernando Mendoza is not the player Peyton Manning became. That doesn’t mean that he won’t be, but he isn’t today, no one is. At this point in his career, Peyton Manning wasn’t Peyton Manning. But when Mendoza worked under center today, he looked like Peyton in his stance, mannerisms, and technique. He is a big-bodied quarterback; being compared to Manning is a compliment. I wasn’t the only one who noticed it either.

Four Quick Takes

1. I have watched every college game of Fernando Mendoza’s career. I have spoken and praised his mobility, which isn’t anything new. I was still shocked by it today. With a bigger frame, he was still mobile, flipping his hips and ankles with ease, showing the mobility that can turn his body into a weapon. It was impressive, even in shorts.

2. As I watched the aforementioned mobility, it kept hitting me how special Mendoza can be as the piece of clay in Klint Kubiak's potters' hands, given the way the Raiders' new leader loves to use designed bootlegs and plays. Unlike Manning, who used his skill set more as a maestro, Mendoza can and will be both maestro and weapon.

The aforementioned mobility kept hitting me how special Mendoza can be as the piece of clay in Klint Kubiak's potters' hands, given the way the Raiders' new leader loves to use designed bootlegs and plays. Unlike Manning, who used his skill set more as a maestro, Mendoza can and will be both maestro and weapon.

3. Mendoza’s quick release has been highly lauded, but I haven’t once praised his quick hands…until today. They stood out to me, going back several times and watching how he used his hands, wrists, and fingers. I 100% confess that, in my voluminous evaluation of him, I had not seen it as it is today. I think that is something he has worked on a lot (and it wasn’t a fault) and has improved since the season ended.

4. While it is no secret that Mendoza is efficient at placing the football, today was a clinic in that efficiency, with the placement near pinpoint. When you rapidly go through a set of over 60 passes, not all will be perfect, especially at the speed Mendoza operated at, which gripped people.

One scout in attendance told me, “He was playing superfast, he was making a statement, and to be that efficient working that fast showed a lot. “ He added, “When you are in a t-shirts and shorts, you can’t show a lot of real things that will equate to an NFL game, but when you move and work that fast, and show the stamina to remain that efficient, the kid was able to do something that could translate to a real NFL game, and not many can do that in a pro day setting.”

Mahomes 2.0

Nov 27, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walks on the field prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

This may seem, or even sound, sacrilegious to the Raider Nation, but with Klint Kubiak and John Spytek making it clear there will be a veteran quarterback presence, it's clear the Silver and Black will follow the Kansas City Chiefs playbook in developing Patrick Mahomes.

While the Raider Nation might despise the Chiefs, that doesn’t mean they don’t respect them, and if Mendoza turns out to be the Silver and Black equivalent of Mahomes, no one who supports the patch will be complaining.