LAS VEGAS — Fernando Mendoza took the first-team snap at 10:14 a.m. Tuesday. Kirk Cousins took the next one. This is the reality of a quarterback competition that did not exist four months ago.
The undrafted rookie out of Cal has forced his way into a conversation the Raiders did not plan for him to be part of. Not this early. Not like this.
The Origin Story
Mendoza was projected as a Day 3 pick by most draft boards. The Raiders took him off the board entirely — undrafted, signed as a priority free agent. The snub is fuel he has not let burn out.
His college résumé at Berkeley told a different story than his draft stock. Mendoza threw for 3,482 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior, completing 68.4 percent of his passes. He also led the Bears to a 9-4 record, their best season in over a decade.
Scouts noted his pocket mobility and pre-snap recognition. What they questioned was arm strength and projection against NFL speed. Mendoza answered by arriving at Raiders camp five pounds heavier, with a release that now clocks faster on the team’s internal tracking.
The transition to the NFL playbook was never going to be the issue. Mendoza’s football IQ tested in the 92nd percentile at the combine. He absorbed the Raiders’ West Coast scheme in nine days.
Inside the Preparation
Mendoza’s preparation is systematic. Film study starts Sunday night, immediately after the previous game’s review. He breaks down defenses by coverage shell first, then by down-and-distance tendencies. His notebook — a worn spiral he’s used since college — contains handwritten notes on every defensive coordinator he’s faced.
Mondays are for red zone. Tuesdays are third down. Wednesdays are situational football: two-minute, four-minute, backed-up, sudden change. This is the blueprint he’s followed since his freshman year at Cal.
He stays after practice for extra throws with receivers. The coaching staff has noticed. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements told ESPN that Mendoza’s timing routes are “ahead of schedule for a rookie.” Clements said Mendoza’s footwork on boot action rivals players with three years in the system.
His mental conditioning is what separates him. Mendoza visualizes pressure scenarios daily. He has a sports psychologist he speaks with weekly. The doubters — the ones who said he wasn’t drafted for a reason — are not ignored. They are filed. They are used.
The Quarterback Battle
The Raiders signed Cousins to a two-year, $60 million deal in March. He was brought in to stabilize the position. Mendoza was brought in to compete. The dynamic has shifted.
Tuesday’s joint practice with the Texans saw Mendoza and Cousins split first-team reps evenly. Mendoza took 14 snaps with the starters; Cousins took 14. The coaching staff’s decision to not designate a clear No. 1 speaks volumes.
In 7-on-7 drills, Mendoza completed 11 of 13 attempts. He threw two touchdowns — one a deep post to Tre Tucker, another a back-shoulder fade to Brock Bowers. Cousins went 9-of-14 with a touchdown and an interception.
The key metric: Mendoza’s time-to-throw averaged 2.31 seconds, a full half-second faster than Cousins. That quick trigger is what the Raiders’ offensive staff values in their new system.
Head coach Antonio Pierce has not named a starter. He has said publicly that “the best player will play” — a phrase that means more in August than it does in April. The Good Morning Football panel weighed in this week, with Kyle Brandt noting that Mendoza “looks like a different quarterback” than the one who entered camp.
Schrager pushed back, citing Cousins’ experience as the safer Week 1 option. The debate is real. The split reps confirm it.
Preseason Spotlight vs. Houston
Tonight’s preseason game against the Texans carries weight. Mendoza is expected to play at least two quarters, possibly three. The Texans’ defense will show him multiple looks — simulated pressure, cover-2 shells, and man-under blitzes.
The analysts on GMFB want to see three things: pocket presence under heat, deep-ball accuracy, and third-down conversion ability. Mendoza’s metrics in joint practice were strong. His completion percentage under pressure was 78 percent, per the team’s internal tracking.
Red-zone efficiency is another marker. Mendoza went 5-for-5 inside the 20 in Tuesday’s session. He threw two touchdowns and scrambled for a third. The short-area quickness is real.
The Raiders might script early drives to showcase his strengths: boot-action passes, quick slants, and a deep shot off play-action. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has historically leaned on scripted first-drive passes. Expect Mendoza to air it out on first down.
What This Means for Other Undrafted QBs
Mendoza’s path is replicable. The components are not mysterious: obsessive film study, structured weekly preparation, and a willingness to do the unglamorous work — the bonus throws, the extra conditioning, the mental reps.
The Raiders’ development staff deserves credit. They’ve broken down Mendoza’s mechanics into drillable segments. Cousins has also mentored him in practice, offering tips on pre-snap reads and defensive disguise. That relationship is functional, not toxic. Both players understand the stakes.
Analytics have helped Mendoza’s case. His expected points added per play in joint practice was +0.32, the highest on the roster. The Raiders use predictive modeling in roster decisions. The numbers favor Mendoza.
Challenges remain. He’s a rookie. He hasn’t faced regular-season NFL speed. Injuries — and the recovery from them — are unknown territory for him.
But the trajectory is clear. Mendoza is no longer competing for a roster spot. He’s competing for the starting job.
The Raiders’ Week 1 matchup against the Chargers is 19 days away. Pierce will make a decision by Monday, per team sources. The betting markets have Mendoza as a slight favorite at -135, with Cousins at +105.
That’s a remarkable line for an undrafted free agent. It wasn’t available in May. It wasn’t available last week. It’s available now because Mendoza has silenced a portion of the doubters already. He has three weeks left to silence the rest.
Fernando Mendoza’s story is not about being undrafted. It’s about what happens after.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: How did Fernando Mendoza go from undrafted to competing for the Raiders’ starting QB job?
- A: Mendoza used his draft snub as fuel, improved his arm strength and release speed, and showcased a 92nd percentile football IQ, absorbing the Raiders’ playbook in just nine days.
- Q: What were Mendoza’s college stats at Cal?
- A: As a senior, Mendoza threw for 3,482 yards and 24 touchdowns with a 68.4% completion rate, leading the Bears to a 9-4 record.
Extended Reading
According to ESPN, Mendoza’s preparation regimen was detailed in an August 2026 feature, highlighting his film-study habits and the “blueprint” method that has accelerated his development. The New York Times‘ The Athletic reported on the joint practice split reps, noting the Raiders’ coaching staff’s deliberate approach to the competition. NFL Network‘s GMFB panel discussed the preseason expectations for Mendoza’s performance against the Texans, focusing on pocket presence and deep-ball accuracy.