Raiderstation

Call your shot....or add your own.

Dante Moore:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Dante-Moore-QB-UCLA

Fernando Mendoza:

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Fer ... California

May the football godz look kindly down upon the feeble and inept.

Mendo is a no-brainer. In a good way. Using Peyton as a bookend, the amount of QBs coming into the league who were supposed to be good because of athletic traits is thick. The amount of guys since Peyton that were coming into the league who are known as being cerebral is a scant few. There’s been Peyton, Luck, Ryan, and maybe Palmer, and now our dude Mendo.

I imagine more than half the league wishes they were in our position to draft Mendo. And teams haven’t looked fondly at our position in decades.

GoodTimeCharlie wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 6:18 pm Mendo is a no-brainer. In a good way. Using Peyton as a bookend, the amount of QBs coming into the league who were supposed to be good because of athletic traits is thick. The amount of guys since Peyton that were coming into the league who are known as being cerebral is a scant few. There’s been Peyton, Luck, Ryan, and maybe Palmer, and now our dude Mendo.

I imagine more than half the league wishes they were in our position to draft Mendo. And teams haven’t looked fondly at our position in decades.

I have been thoroughly enjoying hearing a different talking head change his tune on a daily basis and try to explain why the Raiders shouldn't take Mendoza, or why Mendoza actually isn't that great of a prospect... as expected, of course. pure comedy.

The mind of a QB is the most vital aspect of the game. It even goes beyond being intelligent. Having that sharp football mind and being committed to being great. He's got it. He's 6'5 225 with excellent accuracy on a good arm to go with it. He's also not a statue, he can run for 1st downs. He can be a threat on the bootleg or in the redzone on a keeper or read option. What a fuckin score for the Raiders boys

To be fair, I want to see Mendoza when he doesn't have 30 RPO's a game. I wanna see him under center. I wanna see him make the throws with the same accuracy in the NFL. I want to see how he can maneuver the pocket, sidestep, move up etc. Just like any prospect really.

Get the ground game rolling. That's going to be the #1 thing I look for this year. That's the most important factor of this season. A rook quarterback needs a ground game to lean on. Play action pass. Keep a defense on their toes

Que Aiden O'Connell as the 2026 day 1 starter.

I'm fine with him not starting day 1 and think that rookie QBs can learn a lot about the differences in the NFL game, esp the speed and athleticism, while holding a clipboard. Of course he could make it impossible to sit him, and that wouldn't shock me.

Man you guys really buy into offseason GM media talk huh? Ain't no way on this planet that Mendoza will not be starting week 1 and I'd be willing to wager my years salary on it. And I make a good living.

LMAO imagine Kubiak trotting out Aidan O'Connell week 1.

Whats your take on this?

BoKnows81 wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 2:03 pm Man you guys really buy into offseason GM media talk huh? Ain't no way on this planet that Mendoza will not be starting week 1 and I'd be willing to wager my years salary on it. And I make a good living.

LMAO imagine Kubiak trotting out Aidan O'Connell week 1.

I would tend to agree on the qb starting day one but this may have some legs as Brady has also said he prefers to have a qb sit & learn. Who knows, but at least we're finally taking a swing on a qb

I think Mendoza more likely starts day 1. It's possible that they delay it a bit. Either way, it won't hurt his career or the Raiders IMO. I really don't want us to bring in a "good" bridge QB though because I don't think it's worth the cap investment. There's not a need for anything better than O'Connell as a bridge, although it's possible you could find a better guy to help prepare Mendoza for games.

BoKnows81 wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 2:03 pm Man you guys really buy into offseason GM media talk huh? Ain't no way on this planet that Mendoza will not be starting week 1 and I'd be willing to wager my years salary on it. And I make a good living.

LMAO imagine Kubiak trotting out Aidan O'Connell week 1.

Sounds like an all-in RadierStation bet.

chucker wrote: Tue Feb 24, 2026 2:57 pm I think Mendoza more likely starts day 1. It's possible that they delay it a bit. Either way, it won't hurt his career or the Raiders IMO. I really don't want us to bring in a "good" bridge QB though because I don't think it's worth the cap investment. There's not a need for anything better than O'Connell as a bridge, although it's possible you could find a better guy to help prepare Mendoza for games.

I think Joe Flacco would be perfect in this role

He will start day one. There is no choice. The days of rookie #1 QB's sitting are over. They get paid too much to sit. There are no "good" vet QB's (few, at least) that are starting now, for a rookie to sit behind and learn. No Favres for Rodgers to sit behind. There are no Rodgers' for Love to sit behind. There are no Big Bens for... name whoever to sit behind, etc........... those days are gone. Any team drafting a QB in the first round "needs" a QB that will start day one..... because they have no one to start in the mean time.

Sure, the Raiders could sit Mendo for the first few games. That 95% guarantees a loss to start the season. I'm not expecting great things this year, and if you are fine with losing right out of the gate... sit Mendo for the first few games. I'd rather try and win instead of taking the almost guaranteed loss/es.

I'm sure some will say that same scenario could happen "if" Mendo starts day one. I can't say you would be wrong. I'd just rather take my chances with Mendo than any other QB we have at this time. If we had a competent game manager type QB on the roster I'd be more apt to agree with sitting Mendo for a couple games. We don't have that QB, so...