{"id":2028237,"date":"2026-07-05T16:59:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T13:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2028237"},"modified":"2026-07-05T16:59:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T13:59:23","slug":"fernando-mendozas-hidden-strengths-as-he-leads-raiders-in-his-rookie-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2028237","title":{"rendered":"Fernando Mendoza&#8217;s &#8216;hidden&#8217; strengths as he leads Raiders in his rookie year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20\/6a36afbc70bc5.jpeg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"ue-c-article\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__header \">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__header-content ue-l-article--expand-right-full-from-tablet ue-l-article--expand-right-half-from-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-group\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker-container\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__kicker\">Las Vegas Raiders<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h1 class=\"ue-c-article__headline js-headline js-headlineb \">Fernando Mendoza&#8217;s &#8216;hidden&#8217; strengths as he leads Raiders in his rookie year<\/h1>\n<p class=\"ue-c-article__standfirst\">Las Vegas may have built one of the NFL\u2019s better development plans around him<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__body\" data-section=\"articleBody\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__main-column ue-l-article--minimum-content-from-tablet\">\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--image ue-c-article--media-icon-m-from-phablet ue-l-article--expand-left-full-from-tablet ue-c-article__media--main-media\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1980\" height=\"1320\" class=\"ue-c-article__image\" alt=\"Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza\" src=\"https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20\/6a36afbc70bc5.jpeg\"><\/div><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza<\/span><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-source\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-author\">LAPRESSE<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar has-avatar ue-c-article__bar--horizontal-from-tablet\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-body\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__byline ue-l-article--grow-from-desktop\" aria-label=\"Redacci\u00f3n:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__byline-item\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__byline-name\">\n                                SAM\n                    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__publishdate\" aria-label=\"Fecha de publicaci\u00f3n\"><span>Updated <\/span><time datetime=\"2026-07-05T16:59:23Z\">                            05\/07\/2026<br \/>\n        &#8211;<br \/>\n        <span>11:59<abbr title=\"Central Daylight Time\">CDT<\/abbr><\/span><\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__bar-secondary ue-u-hide-until-tablet ue-l-article--leftcol-width-from-tablet ue-l-article--float-left-from-tablet-no-margin ue-l-article--move-to-leftcol-from-tablet ue-u-sticky-top-80\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools  ue-c-article__share-tools--direction-column js_socialMedia\" aria-label=\"Compartir art\u00edculo en Redes Sociales\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--facebook\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Facebook<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--twitter\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Twitter<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--telegram\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Telegram<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--whatsapp\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir en Whatsapp<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__share-tools-item ue-c-article__share-tools-item--email\"><span class=\"hidden-content\">Compartir por Mail<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles ue-l-article--width-1of2-from-mobile ue-l-article--width-1of3-from-desktop ue-l-article--float-right-from-mobile ue-c-article__subtitles--boxed\" aria-label=\"Contenido relacionado\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">Las Vegas Raiders.\u00a0 <\/span>Tom Brady&#8217;s FOX contract is \u2018in jeopardy\u2019 following Mike Florio&#8217;s comments<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-item  \"><span class=\"ue-c-article__subtitles-kicker\">Kansas City Chiefs.\u00a0 <\/span>A family tree leads Patrick Mahomes&#8217; mother, Randi, to discover an incredible family secret<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__body\">\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph ue-c-article--first-letter-highlighted\"><strong>Fernando Mendoza<\/strong> doesn&#8217;t need to win the <strong>Las Vegas Raiders<\/strong>\u2019 quarterback job in July to feel like the franchise is already leaning toward him.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The rookie enters his first NFL season in a delicate position. <strong>Kirk Cousins<\/strong> gives the <strong>Raiders <\/strong>experience, stability and a clear short-term option, but <strong>Mendoza<\/strong>\u2019s status as the No.1 overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner means every throw he makes will be viewed through a much larger lens.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"ue-c-article__media ue-c-article__media--video  video-player\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-img-container ue-l-article--expand-edge-right-until-tablet ue-l-article--expand-edge-left-until-tablet\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-video-responsive ue-c-article__media-video-responsive--16-9\">\n<div id=\"player_89bc840e6f14a72a8d9bdd76_xabbc4c\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__media-caption-inner\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__media-description\">Fernando Mendoza gets a very special gift that reminds him of his Cuban roots<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Las Vegas<\/strong> has made no secret of the belief that <strong>Mendoza <\/strong>is its quarterback of the future. The only question is how quickly that future arrives.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">CBS Sports\u2019 <strong>Bryan DeArdo<\/strong> added to the intrigue by placing Mendoza in his own quarterback tier, calling him a \u201cprized project\u201d and identifying him as one of the central rookie passers to watch entering the season.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">\u201cAside from the fact that the <strong>Raiders <\/strong>haven\u2019t been good in recent years, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is in a pretty good situation,\u201d <strong>DeArdo<\/strong> wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s going to play under <strong>Klint Kubiak<\/strong>, who came to Las Vegas after winning a Super Bowl as Seattle\u2019s offensive coordinator. He\u2019ll get a chance to learn from not only <strong>Kirk Cousins<\/strong> but also from Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">That&#8217;s the confidence boost <strong>Mendoza <\/strong>needs before training camp. He may be behind <strong>Cousins<\/strong> in experience, but few young quarterbacks enter the league with a better collection of voices around them.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">Raiders can take their time with Mendoza<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">The <strong>Raiders <\/strong>didn&#8217;t bring in <strong>Cousins <\/strong>simply to create drama. His presence gives <strong>Klint Kubiak<\/strong> the option to let <strong>Mendoza <\/strong>develop without forcing him into a struggling offense before he is ready.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">That matters because rookie quarterbacks rarely get a soft landing. <strong>Mendoza<\/strong>\u2019s college resume is impressive, but NFL defenses will test his timing, decision-making and ability to handle pressure in ways Indiana opponents couldn&#8217;t consistently do.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Cousins <\/strong>has also made clear he understands the nature of the competition.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">\u201cYou always want the best guy to play,\u201d <strong>Cousins <\/strong>said in April. \u201cThat\u2019s what competition is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__embedded\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet-lazy\" data-lang=\"es\"><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Cousins <\/strong>is expected to have the inside track for Week 1, but the <strong>Raiders<\/strong> have every reason to keep <strong>Mendoza <\/strong>involved, engaged and prepared. A slow start from the veteran would quickly increase the calls for the rookie.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Mendoza<\/strong>\u2019s challenge is to stay patient without becoming passive. He does not need to force the issue, but he does need to show enough command to make the coaching staff believe he is closing the gap.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"ue-c-article__subheadline\">Brady presence adds another layer<\/h2>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Tom Brady<\/strong>\u2019s role as a <strong>Raiders <\/strong>minority owner gives <strong>Mendoza <\/strong>another unusual advantage. <strong>Brady <\/strong>isn&#8217;t a coach, but his presence around the organization gives the rookie access to a quarterback perspective few teams can offer.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Kubiak<\/strong>\u2019s offense should also give <strong>Mendoza<\/strong> a structure that rewards accuracy, timing and poise, all traits that made him such a strong college prospect. That doesn&#8217;t guarantee an easy transition, but it does give him a realistic pathway.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\">Raider Nation will want answers quickly, especially if the team struggles early. The smarter play may be patience.<\/p>\n<p data-mrf-recirculation=\"Links P\u00e1rrafos\" class=\"ue-c-article__paragraph paragraph\"><strong>Mendoza<\/strong> isn&#8217;t being ignored behind <strong>Cousins<\/strong>. He&#8217;s being positioned carefully. That might be the biggest sign yet that <strong>Las Vegas<\/strong> believes its long search for a franchise quarterback may finally have an ending.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr class=\"taboola-art-mid-script\" data-ue-is-premium=\"false\" data-ue-is-basic=\"true\" data-ue-is-mobile=\"false\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__tags-container\">\n<ul class=\"ue-c-article__tags\" aria-label=\"Etiquetado como:\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">AFC West<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Fernando Mendoza<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Las Vegas Raiders<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-article__tags-item\">Kirk Cousins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news \" aria-label=\"Art\u00edculos relacionados\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">Las Vegas Raiders <\/span>Kirk Cousins worried that Fernando Mendoza will turn down invitation to Backstreet Boys concert at the Sphere<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">Las Vegas Raiders <\/span>Raiders urged to ditch No 1 pick Fernando Mendoza before signing rookie deal<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-item\"><span class=\"ue-c-article__related-news-kicker\">Las Vegas Raiders <\/span>Fernando Mendoza steps away from football and shocks fans with a surprise appearance<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-c-popular-links js-featured-links ue-c-popular-links--closed\">\n<ul class=\"list ue-c-popular-links__list hidden-content\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">NFL News<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">Chiefs News<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">Cowboys News<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">Browns News<\/li>\n<li class=\"ue-c-popular-links__list-item \">Eagles News<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column\">\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column-item\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad ue-c-ad--label\" role=\"region\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-nfl_las-vegas-raiders_n_b300x100_89bc840e6f14a72a8d9bdd76\" class=\"publicidad ue-autorefresh-bind\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column-item ue-l-article--grow\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad ue-c-ad--label ue-c-ad--sticky\" role=\"region\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-nfl_las-vegas-raiders_n_r_89bc840e6f14a72a8d9bdd76\" class=\"publicidad ue-autorefresh-bind\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ue-l-article__secondary-column-item ue-l-article--no-grow js-notice-sticky\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad ue-c-ad--label ue-c-ad--sticky\" role=\"region\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"ue-c-ad__inner\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-nfl_las-vegas-raiders_n_rb_89bc840e6f14a72a8d9bdd76\" class=\"publicidad ue-autorefresh-bind\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.marca.com\/en\/nfl\/las-vegas-raiders\/2026\/07\/05\/fernando-mendoza-s-hidden-strengths-as-he-leads-raiders-in-his-rookie-year.html&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/e00-xlk-ue-marca-en.uecdn.es\/files\/article_main_microformat\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20\/6a36afbc70bc5.jpeg&#8221;] Las Vegas Raiders Fernando Mendoza&#8217;s &#8216;hidden&#8217; strengths as he leads Raiders in his rookie year Las Vegas may have built one of the NFL\u2019s better development plans around him Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando MendozaLAPRESSE SAM Updated 05\/07\/2026 &#8211; 11:59CDT Compartir en Facebook Compartir en Twitter Compartir en Telegram Compartir en Whatsapp [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,45],"class_list":["post-2028237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-marca-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2028237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2028237"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2028237\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2028237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2028237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2028237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}