Fernando Mendoza Welcome To Las Vegas

[Sold My Soul]

Call your shot....or add your own.

Dante Moore:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Dante-Moore-QB-UCLA

Fernando Mendoza:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Fer ... California

May the football godz look kindly down upon the feeble and inept.

[NewEraX25]

Chambliss also didn't start till week 3, so minus 2 games, still was top 3 in the nation passing. I know you're not impressed and that's fine.

Why is this even an issue? Isn't he fighting tooth and nail to return for the 2026 season?

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... -ole-miss/

[chucker]

So Chambliss doesn't think he's ready for the NFL yet, but we should trade away our opportunity to draft a guy who's ready so we can draft Chambliss? Makes total sense.

[Nor_Cal_Raider]

I think the raiders need to start contract talks the first day of the league year and get him signed asap

[NoThanksSir]

All good. The facts are he started with Ole Miss in the offseason of 2025. After the starter's injury, he took over on game 3 and never looked back. Became the #3 passer in the nation with two fewer games. That displays a football IQ, being able to pick up and understand a playbook quickly, leadership ability, and by watching, he displays skills that no one else in this draft has. You're right, a small sample size is risky. It's a risk no matter who you take isn't it? It doesn't make someone my enemy for disagreeing, shit the only one who agrees with me on this is my girlfriend. LMAO

Yep every pick is a roll of the dice. But when you compound risk is where I lose interest. Which is kind of where I'm coming at with your scenario. Historically, no team with a top 3 selection has passed on a QB, and selected their franchise signal caller in a later round. I went back 20 years and the only instances I could find were orgs passing on the QB only to trade for a veteran.

So what you're suggesting, hasn't really been done before. Then you consider how many times QBs like Chambliss bust, talented athletes with a single season of production on their resume. And I think you're creating what amounts to a multi leg parlay that continues to decrease the odds of your gamble. Anyway, I do think Mendoza will be the selection. I don't mind humoring these alternative scenarios because it will be a long three months until the draft, I just think this one is a bit of a reach

[chucker]

Alternative ideas are ok as a thought experiment, but in this instance it's extremely clear what's going to happen. The Raiders are not trading the pick and they are taking Mendoza #1. The actual work needs to be on how to make that selection as effective as possible.

The instant we're allowed to have predraft contact with Mendoza, you need to have Brady talking to him about what he can do to get ready the NFL as he waits for the draft. What coaches should he enlist, etc. (I say Brady because he's equipped to have those discussions and because we don't have a coaching staff).

[LayneStaley]

[haji81872]

This is the first image that comes to mind

Not far off.

[Xramfan]

If the Raiders pass on Mendoza and screw up this HC hire, I think that will be my final “here’s your sign” moment to finally walk away from all things Raiders.


I understand all perspectives but when the Raiders haven’t had a great QB since Gannon and the football gods have finally given you the first pick in the draft with a clear leader on the QB board………..I guess only the Raiders can say, “Nah, we good. Let’s trade that pick for a few extra picks so we can get questionable DBs and a punter” lol


Even if Mendoza doesn’t turn into a franchise QB, I’ll never doubt or question the pick because it is obviously the correct pick to try

[Amish Cabal]

So Chambliss doesn't think he's ready for the NFL yet, but we should trade away our opportunity to draft a guy who's ready so we can draft Chambliss? Makes total sense.

Chambliss says he want a National Championship with the Rebels, but also says he'll be ready for the NFL if his lawsuit fails. Said he'll be playing football either way. The smart move is to stay at Ole Miss, being he only started a partial year, his draft stock isn't where it would be with more time on the national stage. So it does make sense.

“We are moving forward under the premise that he’s been denied (eligibility) so that he can at least begin to prepare mentally for the NFL and the pre-draft process, including the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Game,” Smith said. “And then training for the combine if those are the next steps, while simultaneously pursuing the appeals process with the NCAA.”

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/696458 ... l-lawsuit/

[Attyla]

Someone is going to be disappointed.....and it is not going to be me I think. And next year when he makes us forget about Geno Carr II, I hope it is with a smile on my face

[haji81872]

Agree with Chucker, Chambliss and his agent are fighting so hard to stay in college because they know he is not going to be drafted high in the NFL.

Plus if you make a trade and someone drafts him before you are you going to pivot to Simpson or just be left holding your dick. I mean if one of us sees that he is the best QB in the draft wouldn't others in the NFL see the same thing?

I am an absolute draft junkie and have said before I love the draft more than regular season NFL. To get into specifics about Chambliss, who I love,

Here are some concerns.

He is short, however tall you think he is he is short and has a side arm slot with makes it worse. 16 batted passes this year.

His mechanics are, I will say unusual, not bad, although you could say that. When he has to drive throws the ball can sail on him.

When he throws he actually drives with lifting his back foot. His footwork needs a lot of improvement

Some really, really bad decisions. In a number of games he had dropped picks. The number of times he threw deep against cover four is very concerning. Would have had multiple picks if not for his own WR knocking down passes.

Doesn't work through his progressions quickly. Still stares down his number one target after the snap. Just doesn't process information fast. Pre and post snap reads are really not a part of his game.

Has a great arm, but tries to rifle everything, I mean EVERYTHING and threw a number of hospital balls this season. His receivers took some big shots.

Has no touch to his game.

Great runner, but small frame and I am not sure he can endure big shots. Also, he gets tripped up and knocked down pretty easily because he lacks strength.

Here is what I love:

Great arm, tight spiral.

Can throw from every platform, especially when he rolls out to his right. If he would do that every play, he would be unstoppable.

Outstanding deep ball, more of a rope than a pass with loft, but very accurate.

Can throw the ball all over the field. Seams, back-shoulders, etc.

Not only explosive and hits top speed fast plus maintains that speed.

[BotesBoats]

I think the raiders need to start contract talks the first day of the league year and get him signed asap

This used to happen every now and then, at least, #1 picks signing contracts even before the draft. I'm surprised it isn't a thing anymore.

[chucker]

This used to happen every now and then, at least, #1 picks signing contracts even before the draft. I'm surprised it isn't a thing anymore.

Signing a contract prior to the draft used to be a thing because the money used to be negotiable (and there used to be way more money for the top pick). Now the total compensation is fixed by the CBA so the player can't hold out and get more money. The only things negotiable now are the payment terms, and even those are so standard now that it's never going to be a sticking point. There's no advantage to negotiating a contract prior to the draft anymore.

[Goodtimes333]

A pocket passer whose brilliant in mind and very accurate. He's coachable and says he would die for his team. He doesn't look to run but is capable of doing so. When he does run he's tough and determined to achieve a goal. He denied himself a GF in college because it would only waste his time on his quest to be an NFL quarterback. Can take big hits early in a game & not be swayed. The best quarterback of all time had these traits minus the running ability.

Sign me the f[raiders_icon]ck up. Fernando is blessed & the Raiders are blessed.

[Nor_Cal_Raider]

Signing a contract prior to the draft used to be a thing because the money used to be negotiable (and there used to be way more money for the top pick). Now the total compensation is fixed by the CBA so the player can't hold out and get more money. The only things negotiable now are the payment terms, and even those are so standard now that it's never going to be a sticking point. There's no advantage to negotiating a contract prior to the draft anymore.

Except we wouldn't have to listen to all the bs rumors. Also, if he's signed can he be at the facilities
For conditioning?