Raiderstation

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.

The Ringer's first mock.

Las Vegas Raiders
QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana

The Geno Smith experiment has not gone as the Raiders had hoped, leaving Las Vegas with a massive need at the most important position in sports. The team addresses that hole here, taking a polished and steely signal caller in Mendoza. The Hoosiers star and Heisman winner is an accurate rhythm passer who helped elevate the Indiana football program to new heights. The Raiders surely hope that Mendoza can do that with their franchise as well.

Be_Easy_25 wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 9:23 am


Whitlock followed up by having Bucky Brooks on who doesn’t think Mendoza is all of that.

This feels like lazy reporting. Bucky said he isn’t clutch. I’ve seen Mendoza be clutch several times. He also said doesn’t have any elite traits yet doesn’t mention his intelligence and preparation.

It's kind of wild to me that folks are using a Jared Goff comp as a critique of Mendoza. Especially those in the media. Goff has proven he is a damn good QB who's early career was ruined by a dogshit organization. I think Mendoza can be even better tbh, I'm just confused by the Goff slander even after all this time.

NoThanksSir wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 11:13 am It's kind of wild to me that folks are using a Jared Goff comp as a critique of Mendoza. Especially those in the media. Goff has proven he is a damn good QB who's early career was ruined by a dogshit organization. I think Mendoza can be even better tbh, I'm just confused by the Goff slander even after all this time.

Exactly, Jared Goff is what? Not good? 4,500 yards, 34 touchdowns, 8 interceptions. I could live with that.

Lions rarely lose because of Goff or their offense. They lose because their defense has been perennially mediocre/bad.

haji81872 wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 11:33 am Exactly, Jared Goff is what? Not good? 4,500 yards, 34 touchdowns, 8 interceptions. I could live with that.

Goff was good as a college player. Sorry, you do not trade up to get a guy at the top spot unless the talent is there and the Rams are a good organization. Do teams whiff with those deals, sure. But he was worth the jump. I personally did not have a first overall thought on the guy but I understand why they went after him. And no, he has not been flashy as a pro but he has consistently come out and got the job done.

Mendoza is a bit more accurate but he has also had the benefit of a kickass run game so has not been asked to do quite as much as Goff had to do. The Bears in his final season played from behind a bit so he had to throw a lot more passes

Goff's line: 341 completions from 529 passes 64.5% with 43 TDs and 13 Int 4714 total yards passing
Mendoza's line: 240 completions from 332 passes 72.3% with 36 TDs and 6 INT 3172 total yards passing

Mendoza is just more efficient. And Mendoza gets more yards per attempt and more yards per completion. This matters.

NoThanksSir wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 11:13 am It's kind of wild to me that folks are using a Jared Goff comp as a critique of Mendoza. Especially those in the media. Goff has proven he is a damn good QB who's early career was ruined by a dogshit organization. I think Mendoza can be even better tbh, I'm just confused by the Goff slander even after all this time.

He took the Rams to a Superbowl and was the 5th fastest QB to 20,000 yards. Some narratives die harder than others.

Raidernation1979 wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 10:24 am This feels like lazy reporting. Bucky said he isn’t clutch. I’ve seen Mendoza be clutch several times. He also said doesn’t have any elite traits yet doesn’t mention his intelligence and preparation.

I think he doesn't fit a certain type of player they shoehorn as being the QB ideal. Bucky Brooks while better than the clowns at ESPN is rarely right with his QB evaluations.

Every year around this time I’ll load up on draft podcasts, and every year I give “Move the Sticks” another go, but Bucky Brooks can give you f’n narcolepsy. He’s a f’n zombie. I like Daniel Jeremiah, so I try to muscle through the times Bucky drones-on, but he ruins that show. Utterly useless dude to listen to.

GoodTimeCharlie wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 4:21 pm Every year around this time I’ll load up on draft podcasts, and every year I give “Move the Sticks” another go, but Bucky Brooks can give you f’n narcolepsy. He’s a f’n zombie. I like Daniel Jeremiah, so I try to muscle through the times Bucky drones-on, but he ruins that show. Utterly useless dude to listen to.

Bucky doesn't even deserve to do what he does bc he's so bad.

GoodTimeCharlie wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 4:21 pm Every year around this time I’ll load up on draft podcasts, and every year I give “Move the Sticks” another go, but Bucky Brooks can give you f’n narcolepsy. He’s a f’n zombie. I like Daniel Jeremiah, so I try to muscle through the times Bucky drones-on, but he ruins that show. Utterly useless dude to listen to.

I will give Bucky Brooks credit..... when other analysts all had Carr as a top NFL QB after 2016, Brooks ranked him around 20 or 21 in the league. Ahead of the curve.

chucker wrote: Fri Jan 09, 2026 4:45 pm I will give Bucky Brooks credit..... when other analysts all had Carr as a top NFL QB after 2016, Brooks ranked him around 20 or 21 in the league. Ahead of the curve.

Well damn, he gets a rose for that. Mostly useless then, and still a horrible listen.

Holy Shit this kid is good. He has some very nice receivers but he needs to get them the ball! And he does!

If you are wanting to be HC in this league you gotta love this kid.

Good luck you Jets f[raiders_icon]cks, you get our sloppy seconds

Welcome to the dark side Mendoza