Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza said he has a “long way to go” in his adjustment to playing under center. He took only 3% of his snaps under center at Indiana last season, per ESPN.
Here's more from Mendoza at rookie minicamp (via ESPN):
"Instead of being back there in shotgun, we have to get back to make sure you best serve your offensive linemen, still be on time [and] still decipher the defense," Mendoza said. "And with that, actually having an emphasis on those first two steps, on securing the snap and getting out of there, and [being] powerful with having quick feet."
Mendoza added praise for first-year HC Klint Kubiak.
"To have such a genius offensive mind running such a coherent and complementary system is a really good place and really good situation to be in as a quarterback."
The 22-year-old will also get a chance to learn from 14-year veteran Kirk Cousins, who joined in April on a two-year deal.
Mendoza isn't a wise fantasy investment at this stage of the offseason.
At the NFL Combine, GM John Spytek indicated that he wouldn't rush a rookie QB into the starting lineup. At the NFL meetings last month, Kubiak mentioned the benefit of a rookie sitting behind a veteran passer.
That certainly describes Cousins, a 167-game NFL starter. The issue is that he turns 38 in August and looked underwhelming in a small 2025 sample. Cousins posted his worst yards per attempt (6.4) and his worst completion rate (61.7%) since 2013.
Our hunch is that Cousins starts the season under center. We're just not sure he'll be able to hold the gig for long.
Our QB rankings currently project Cousins for three games and Mendoza for 14. But this is a fluid situation that'll play out in training camp and the preseason.
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