The worst-kept secret in the NFL right now is that Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is going to be the No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL draft next month. NFL Network’s lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah pretty much confirmed that on “The Pat McAfee Show”, saying he’d be “shocked, stunned, astonished” if Mendoza isn’t heading to Las Vegas in April based on what he’s hearing around the league.
That isn’t surprising, but Jeremiah dropped an even more interesting piece of information during his appearance: the Heisman Trophy winner is already taking steps to learn Raiders’ head coach Klint Kubiak’s playbook.
“Fernando Mendoza is working with Brian Griese right now, and it’s not so much that they’re working on footwork,” the analyst said. “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.”
Griese is well-versed in the Kubiak playbook, having played for Gary Kubiak with the Denver Broncos and working for Kyle Shanahan as the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterbacks coach from 2022 to 2024. Klint Kubiak and Griese even worked together for a year in San Francisco (2023), when the former was the 49ers’ passing game coordinator.
Not that it was much of a question, but this pretty much confirms that it’s just a matter of time until Mendoza dons the Silver and Black. And from the sounds of it, he’s doing everything he can to hit the ground running once rookie minicamp rolls along after the draft.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Can Christen Miller fill void at nose tackle?: Now that the No. 1 pick is all but decided, dive into the tape for an option in the second round to address the other side of the ball.
- Barret Robins dies: The former All-Pro center from the mid 90s and early 2000s passed away in his sleep on Friday.
- John Spytek on Maxx Crosby trade: “Things have a way of working out the way they’re supposed to. We welcome him like he never left — because he really never did,” the general manager told JT The Brick.
- Najee Harris visit scheduled: According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the free agent running back will be in Las Vegas on Thursday. He also met with Seattle.
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