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Las Vegas could be Fernando Mendoza’s first stop in the NFL. But if he joins the Raiders as a rookie, his jersey could stay clean early if coach Klint Kubiak has his way.
Mendoza led Indiana to its first College Football Playoff national title in January and is widely projected as the No. 1 pick in April’s NFL Draft, a selection held by the Raiders.
Klint Kubiak was named head coach of the Raiders in February, shortly after helping the Seattle Seahawks win the franchise’s second Super Bowl title as offensive coordinator.
Kubiak believes rookie quarterbacks benefit from learning from an experienced player before seeing game action.
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Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak speaks during an introductory press conference at the Intermountain Health Performance Center on February 10, 2026, in Henderson, Nevada. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“Ideally, you wouldn’t want it to start on day one,” Kubiak told reporters Tuesday. “You wish he could learn behind someone. It’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes they have to play from day one, and it’s our job as a coach to get them ready to go. I think it helps the player if he can sit behind a mature adult and watch how he runs the show.”
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Aidan O’Connell is the only other quarterback on the Raiders’ roster after the team traded Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett to signings with the Panthers. Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are among the veterans who remain unsigned.
The Raiders’ playoff win drought dates back to the 2002 season, when the franchise won the AFC championship.
Kubiak pointed to Fernando Mendoza’s track record when asked about the quarterback.
“He’s a national champion. He’s a winner,” Kubiak said of Mendoza. “He’s fast. He’s smart.”
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game January 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
On defense, the Raiders still have five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby after his trade to Baltimore was voided because he failed a physical.
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak speaks to the media before the Super Bowl at the San Jose Convention Center on February 5, 2026, in San Jose, California. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Kubiak said he smiled when general manager John Spytek told him the news of the canceled deal.
“We got Maxx back. Are you kidding me? It’s awesome. Our team got better,” Kubiak said.
