Fernando Mendoza might start the season as the starter for the Las Vegas Raiders, but it’s only a matter of time before the No. 1 overall pick takes over the mantle in Sin City.
But while a majority of pundits and scouts believe that Mendoza has what it takes to be a franchise QB in the NFL, not everyone is buying into the hype.
And one of those detractors is a former coach who faced off against Mendoza in college.
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In a new ESPN article, the outlet interviewed college coaches under the promise of anonymity to talk openly about what they felt about everything that went down at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
On the topic of Mendoza going first to the Raiders, one ACC coach who faced Mendoza during his time as a California Golden Bear doesn’t think the Heisman Trophy winner has the skill set required to thrive in the pros.
“He’s a good decision-maker, but I don’t think he’s got the NFL traits,” the former opponent coach said. “They’re all back-shoulder [throws]. That’s not working in the NFL. His receivers made plays to make him look better than he is. In the NFL, those throws are getting picked off.”
Although another anonymous source said that they believe Mendoza will have a lot of help in Vegas and that he has the talent to live up to the hype, it isn’t as unanimous as some other No. 1 picks in the past, such as Trevor Lawrence with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
For the Raiders, though, it’s a risk worth taking, as it’s been nearly a quarter-century since they last won a playoff game in the NFL.
Read the full article here
