Steve Mariucci is high on Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza. He calls the No. 1 pick his “standout” player to watch thanks to his rare raw talent.
Mariucci, a former NFL head coach in his own right, says Mendoza is the player he’s watching most closely this season, calling him his “standout pick” based on raw talent. In an interview with Alex Withers of Casino.org, Mariucci pointed to Mendoza’s college résumé, including the Heisman Trophy and a national championship at Indiana, as evidence he has the tools to become a difference-maker in Las Vegas.
Mariucci also praised the quarterback room Mendoza is stepping into. He says veteran Kirk Cousins will be “a very good influence on him” and “a good mentor for Fernando to help him learn his trade.” That mentorship dynamic matters for a Raiders team still finding its footing.
Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, isn’t guaranteed the Week 1 starting job. Head coach Klint Kubiak is on record preferring to start a veteran when the situation allows. That leaves Cousins as the likely Week 1 QB1, with Mendoza developing behind him rather than being thrust immediately into the fire. It’s a rare setup for a top overall quarterback pick in recent draft history.
Fernando Mendoza enters a promising rebuild…
For a Raiders roster still rebuilding after a 3-14 season, the Cousins-Mendoza pairing is as much a cap and depth-chart decision as a developmental one. Cousins’ veteran presence buys the coaching staff time to build the offensive line and skill groups around Mendoza. It also means the team isn’t rushing him. That protects the rookie’s long-term trajectory, along with the fully guaranteed four-year, $57.27 million contract tied to it. Mariucci framed it plainly: “The Raiders are building, getting stronger, and trying to get back up there with the rest of that division, so his time there will only make him a better quarterback.”
Related: Did Tom Brady’s FOX gig play a role in Klint Kubiak’s hire?
Expect Mendoza to open the season as QB2. Still, don’t be surprised if a slow start from Cousins or a strong final stretch of preseason accelerates the timeline before Halloween.
Mariucci didn’t shy away from the challenge ahead, either: “It’s going to be a baptism by fire. It’s going to be hard for him but he’s my standout pick for the season based on raw talent.”
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images