When the Las Vegas Raiders landed the No. 1 overall pick at the end of last season, all signs pointed to Fernando Mendoza becoming the team's starting quarterback from Day 1. However, the franchise surprised many by signing Kirk Cousins before the NFL Draft, a move that raised plenty of questions about the plan for the young signal-caller.
As the weeks passed, the strategy became clear. New head coach Klint Kubiak chose to bring Mendoza along patiently. Having previously worked with Cousins on the Minnesota Vikings, Kubiak knew exactly what the veteran could provide and opted to rely on his experience while the rookie continues his development.
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The decision has paid off. Cousins is currently tied for the NFL lead with 14 touchdown passes, while Mendoza has only seen game action in the loss to the New England Patriots, with no real pressure mounting to replace the veteran.
Raiders owner Mark Davis isn't in a hurry either. After the franchise used a first-round pick on a quarterback for the first time in years, Davis is convinced Mendoza is the future of the organization and says he has been thrilled with the rookie's progress.
“I love his work ethic,” Davis told The New York Post. “I love that he's like a sponge in terms of learning.”
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Mark Davis is fully convinced of Fernando Mendoza's potential
Cousins' strong play has quieted any debate about a quarterback change. However, at 38 years old, the veteran is not part of the Raiders' long-term plans.
That's why so much of the franchise's future depends on Mendoza's development, and Davis has been especially impressed by the young quarterback's mindset and ambition.
“He wants to be the greatest. He enjoys the game, he's competitive. Everything you think of, he's got,” Davis said.
The Raiders owner has complete confidence in the No. 1 overall pick.
“If he can play football, he's going to be great,” Davis added.
When will Mendoza get his chance?
The Raiders find themselves in a difficult spot after dropping three straight games to fall to 3-3, although Cousins' performance can hardly be blamed for the team's struggles.
As long as the veteran continues to play at a high level, it will be difficult to justify making a change. However, if Las Vegas falls out of the playoff race, giving Mendoza more snaps to accelerate his development could become the logical move. The challenge is that once the rookie takes over the offense, it would be difficult to go back to the previous plan.
That's why the Raiders are remaining patient.
On top of that, the current offensive situation isn't ideal for a rookie quarterback. The team has struggled to establish a consistent running game, something that was a key part of Mendoza's success at Indiana. The Raiders also continue to have major questions along the offensive line and at wide receiver.
For now, allowing Mendoza to continue learning from the sidelines appears to be the smartest approach. The organization will have time to strengthen the offensive line, upgrade the receiving corps, and establish a more reliable rushing attack before handing him the keys to the offense. That said, if the Raiders fall completely out of playoff contention, the young quarterback's first career start could arrive sooner than expected.