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.

[Reno Hightower]

It says a lot that at this stage of the game.

We literally do not trust the Raiders to make the correct decisions. In fact, most of us expect that the Raiders will actually take an active, affirmative step to deliberately do the wrong one.

Now do I truly believe that? I'd like to say that is hyperbolic, but after we've seen decades of ineptitude? You have to start wondering.

I don't pretend to know what goes on with the organization internally or how much Mark does truly meddle but as Bill Parcells liked to say, you are what your record says that you are. So I think our uninformed criticism isn't very far off.

As far as I am concerned, Mark is another Dan Snyder minus the business acumen. We all know how that worked out.

Mark made the stadium deal in Vegas work, but I think it is more of a case of the blind dog finding a pork chop. While it did happen on his watch I think the NFL put him exactly where they wanted him. As shitty as the Raiders have been the venue will always draw other fan bases and remain a cash cow.

The only way it fails is if the Raider Nation reaches the end of its collective rope, marches on Vegas and burn the place to the ground.

[Arsenal Raider]

Didn't Mark "invent" the NFL player handwarmer as well start the Raider Image franchise?

I use "invent" loosely, as far as I know he came up with the idea and put the wheels into motion for production (nothing technical or hands on.)

I hear he can put down 4 or 5 plates in one sitting from P.F. Chang's

[Raider_Dave]

Has there been any talk of Mendoza sitting out the playoff?

Many top projected picks protect their bodies by sitting out.

They have sat out bowl games that mean nothing. Don't think there's ever been a player sit out one of these playoff games with a National Championship still in play.

[Be_Easy_25]

I’ll take the grown up with poise, leadership, and nearly 3 years worth of starts in college.

[Southshield]

I want Mendoza...If he turns out to be another Kirk Cousins I'll be disappointed...Cousins isn't your franchise QB if you want success when it matters.

Kirk Cousins has a playoff win. If Mendoza is another Cousins clone I will take it over the other QBS we have had in the last 20 plus years. At this point I just want to see the Raiders competitive. A 9-8 season seems euphoric to me.

[Be_Easy_25]

Who cares if he’s Cousins? That’s a couple playoff trips in our future.

Don’t like him? Draft a QB behind him.

[LayneStaley]

I think he’s better than Cousins but worse than Ryan. I’ll take it.

[Dank Sinatra]

Mendoza's shown he can sling it and win big games.

[RunOverByHubbard]

Regarding Moore, another Oregon quarterback was known as a game manager, and Mr. Nx is having a good good career so far.

[raiderjohn]

Regarding Moore, another Oregon quarterback was known as a game manager, and Mr. Nx is having a good good career so far.

The only thing with Moore is experience, which is huge, 21 games played to Nix's 64. You can't coach experience. Moore's skillset is off the charts, tantalizing, mezmorizing, but with the choice, I go with Mendoza's experience as a piece to success.

[FlyBono24]

Fun Fact, it was non other former Raiders OC Bill Musgrave who recruited Mendoza to Cal from Yale where, if I'm not mistaken, he was slated to play WR. It was Musgrave who converted Mendoza to QB at Cal.

And Dante Moore was recruited by former UCLA Head Coach and our former OC Chip Kelly

[Hellbound]

Kirk Cousins has a playoff win. If Mendoza is another Cousins clone I will take it over the other QBS we have had in the last 20 plus years. At this point I just want to see the Raiders competitive. A 9-8 season seems euphoric to me.

1 playoff win in what a 15ish yr career? If that's what the 1 overall gets you, that's a failure imo

[RI RAIDER]

I don't really care who we take TBH as I just want someone, anyone. Its all a crap shoot. Someone said this could be a GREAT season, and I have to agree. I just hope we get lucky with whoever we take. Mendoza does seem to be a better option than Moore (not to overlook Simpson). That being said, Moore is only 20 and has had success at 2 schools and 2 different systems. At the end of the day, none of us know shit just like the countless NFL executives who have been getting it wrong for decades in regards to QB's. We need luck and Lord knows this fanbase is more than deserving. I have to give a shout out to younger fans (it does not seem like there are many on this board) who have really never tasted success with this team. Us older guys at least have enjoyed some special years when the dinosaurs roamed.

[Sold My Soul]

From the Athletic.....

Question:

The 2-14 Raiders hold the edge for the 2026 NFL Draft No. 1 pick after Sunday’s loss. Would you draft Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Oregon’s Dante Moore (assuming he declares) at quarterback, or should Las Vegas consider selecting someone at a different position?

Jones: Because they have so many needs, it would be tempting to see what that first pick could fetch the Raiders on the trade market. Could they trade down a few spots and receive a haul of picks in this year’s and next year’s drafts and still be in position to take a similarly rated quarterback in 2026? If that’s possible, that’s the way to go.

Nguyen: I haven’t gotten into the all-22 with this draft class yet, but it depends on who is going to be calling plays next season. If the Raiders move away from Pete Carroll and hire an offensive mind like Klint Kubiak, Mendoza would be a perfect fit for his offense. If a playcaller runs a system that requires a little bit more of a playmaker, Moore might be the right pick. Based on what I’ve seen as of today, I think Mendoza is the better prospect, but both players, like all young quarterbacks, have to be in the right system to thrive. The Raiders haven’t drafted a quarterback in the first round since JaMarcus Russell in 2007. It’s about time they stop trying to Band-Aid over the problem and draft one to build around.

Pompei: Based on my limited knowledge at this point, I’d say they should try to trade down. If we still are asking which quarterback is the best prospect, that probably means there isn’t a player who clearly stands above the others. A lot of teams make mistakes early in the draft by passing on superior prospects at other positions to take quarterbacks. The Raiders have many holes and could benefit from a wave of young players. They could try to address the quarterback with a veteran, as they did unsuccessfully in 2025. Often, there aren’t ideal solutions for quarterback-needy teams, and this probably will be one of those situations for the Raiders.

[BoKnows81]

I'm sorry but the trade down talk is absolutely idiotic. It's pathetic that there are "professionals" out there that are even suggesting it. You have a chance to alter the direction of the franchise by taking a QB that this team hasn't had in over 20 years (longer if you dont count Gannon) and you want to pass on that? I'm sorry but good luck getting any coach, any free agents, any fans in seats if you pass on a QB at 1. I dont give a f[raiders_icon]ck what 2026 QB draft class looks like. It could end up being worse than this class. They need to take the shot NOW.