Breven Honda
The clock is running out.
With the NFL Draft less than three weeks away, the Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on their choice at No. 1 overall — and all signs point to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza and the Hoosiers held their Pro Day on Wednesday. Here’s what scouts saw.
Fernando Mendoza Puts on a Show
Mendoza, who guided Indiana to an undefeated 16-0 record and a national championship three months ago, completed 53 of 56 passes.
With his Hoosiers receivers working to impress scouts, Mendoza had just two drops. All 56 attempts came in a 20-minute window with two brief breaks, with routes ranging across the full playbook and arm-strength tests pushing 50 to 60 yards downfield.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner threw from the pistol, the shotgun, on the run and to both sides of the field — hitting the flat, over the middle and on back-shoulder throws along the sideline.
What set this Pro Day apart: Mendoza called out each receiver’s name and the intended route before every snap, essentially running the session like a huddle. Scouts knew exactly what was coming and could evaluate accordingly.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen that,” ESPN analyst Louis Riddick said on SportsCenter. “I’m not saying that’s all of a sudden something where everybody’s going to go, ‘Whoa, he’s easily the No. 1 pick because he’s announcing the guy’s name and route.’ What I am saying is these are all data points along the way that, when you’re talking about drafting a quarterback first overall and making him the leader of your organization, these are some of the things you want to see.”
Also read: Raiders Hire Mike Sullivan as Quarterbacks Coach to Develop Fernando Mendoza
How a Rookie QB Impacts Raiders Roster & Franchise
Multiple members of the Raiders organization attended Indiana’s Pro Day, including head coach Klint Kubiak.
Despite signing Kirk Cousins on Thursday, Las Vegas is still searching for its quarterback of the future. The situation mirrors where Cousins was last season in Atlanta, when the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. with a veteran starter already in place.
Kubiak believes having a seasoned veteran running the offense accelerates a rookie quarterback’s development.
“I think in a perfect world, he’s watching a mature adult go and run the offense and run the team,” the first-year Raiders head coach said Tuesday at the league meetings in Arizona. “You’d rather have him learn before he gets in the game. At the end of the day, you’re bringing in an individual — drafting a guy that is mature enough to handle some adversity, whether it’s him starting the first game or the first game of year two.”
The model isn’t new. Aaron Rodgers learned behind Brett Favre in Green Bay. Steve Young sat behind Joe Montana in San Francisco. The Raiders have their own version of that mentorship pipeline in mind.
That’s where Tom Brady comes in. As a minority owner and organizational advisor, Brady figures to play a significant role in shaping whoever Las Vegas takes with the No. 1 pick.
“In all aspects of my job, I’m reaching out to him,” Kubiak said. “What I’ve asked him is to give me the advice I really don’t want to hear. It’s OK to hurt my feelings. I have all the confidence we’re going to keep building that relationship.”
