Fernando Mendoza drops fresh Raiders hint by echoing Joe Burrow’s draft plan: ‘Full speed ahead’

Fernando Mendoza is well and truly preparing to make the leap into the NFL.

The worst-kept secret in football right now is that the Indiana Hoosiers quarterback is going to be selected first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft next month.

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The Las Vegas Raiders own the coveted pick, following a disappointing season in which they finished 3-14.

It’s been an active offseason in Sin City, which began with a Maxx Crosby trade that was later vetoed by the Baltimore Ravens.

The Raiders then made Tyler Linderbaum the highest-paid centre in NFL history, and reinforced their wide-receiver room with Jalen Nailor.

Presumably all is being done in preparation for Mendoza’s arrival, and NFL Insider Daniel Jeremiah’s latest report has all but confirmed that.

Fernando Mendoza preparing for life in Las Vegas

“Fernando Mendoza is working with (former QBs coach) Brian Griese right now, and it’s not so much that they’re working on footwork,” Jeremiah said on The Pat McAfee Show. 

“They’re installing the Raiders offense. He’s full speed ahead. This is the same thing that happened with (Joe) Burrow.

“Where you can use this time to really try and learn the core verbiage and concepts along with an offense.”

New Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak and Griese worked together for a year in San Francisco, when the former was their passing game coordinator.

That means Griese is likely familiar with the Kubiak playbook, and is already passing that knowledge onto the projected top draft pick.

As Jeremiah mentioned, Mendoza is doing exactly what Joe Burrow did before joining the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020.

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Burrow studied their offense for weeks, and at the time, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that he was so-well informed, he was going to challenge immediately for the starting role.

He did exactly that, in the COVID-shortened year, was named the starter and threw for 2,688 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Mendoza appears to be following the same arc as Burrow, given some questions that have been floating around this offseason.

Will Fernando Mendoza be a Day 1 starter on the Raiders?

Both general manager John Spytek and Kubiak have suggested they aren’t too keen on throwing a rookie quarterback straight into the fire.

The Raiders have been linked with Kirk Cousins, and even Derek Carr has said he is willing to come out of retirement to serve as a bridge/mentor.

There have also been concerns raised about the Raiders environment, whether that will be the best place for Mendoza to thrive.

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Despite not throwing at the Combine, he met with the Raiders and described the interview as ‘fantastic’, and also got the opportunity to speak to minority owner Tom Brady.

Mendoza’s commitment, and the fact he is learning the playbook already, is a sure enough sign that he will be made a Raider in just under a month.

Not that it was much of a question, and from the sounds of it, he’s doing everything he can to hit the ground running once rookie minicamp rolls around.

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