While the 2026 quarterback class was extremely underwhelming, there was no doubt that Fernando Mendoza was multiple tiers above the rest of the pack. That was more of a testament to this thin class than to his talent, though; he probably would've been QB4-5 in any other year.
Even so, the Las Vegas Raiders did the right thing with their prized rookie. Instead of throwing him into the fire right away, they let him sit and develop behind a proven veteran. But now that they've traded Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings at the deadline, all that patience might've been worthless.
The Raiders are all but giving up on the season, which makes sense, but they might be rushing Mendoza onto the field. That has rarely helped an unprepared quarterback, and it might take a serious toll on his career.
The Kirk Cousins trade might help the Chiefs for years to come
As good as Mendoza was in his final collegiate season, he was still a work in progress. He excelled out of the shotgun but barely did any under-center work, and it would be a while before he got a hold of an NFL-caliber offense because of that.
He's a hard-working guy who has been the first to arrive and the last to leave, but he's also looked like a deer in headlights with limited playing time. He's not ready, and while there's nothing like actual game reps to speed up a player's development, it can also come back to haunt him.
What if he struggles out of the gate? We've seen time and time again how early struggles can destroy a player's confidence beyond repair. It would be a shame to watch a No. 1 pick waste his talent, but it would certainly help the Chiefs' aspirations in the AFC West.
The Raiders' strong start to the season is in the rearview mirror, but they look like a team that's trending in the right direction under Klint Kubiak's tutelage. As such, watching them mess up Mendoza's development is obviously a positive for the Chiefs.
Some teams can't help themselves. Their plan made sense, and they should've stuck to their vision, even if Mendoza showed signs of progress in practice and Kirk Cousins wasn't gonna take them far anyway.
Granted, it's hard to waste an opportunity to trade Cousins whenever a desperate team comes knocking with a big offer. But sometimes, teams win more by the moves they don't make than by the ones they do make.
The jury was already out on Fernando Mendoza, and the Raiders have officially put him on the clock now. Hopefully for him, the Chiefs won't have to play their starters in the regular-season finale against Las Vegas. Otherwise, it might be a long day in the office for the No. 1 pick.
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