Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza will likely be the No. 1 pick for the Las Vegas Raiders. Through two College Football Playoff games, he’s shown why the Silver and Black need to take him, and Mendoza has the national title game left to seal his argument as the top pick.
Mendoza and the Hoosiers will be facing the Miami Hurricanes, whose head football coach, Mario Cristobal, shared thoughts on what makes the 22-year-old an elite quarterback. Moreover, his traits would be music to the Raiders fans’ ears, who might need more convincing that the Indiana star should be their franchise QB.
“I think he combines everything that you would want in an elite quarterback,” Cristobal said on Jan. 12 while talking to reporters (h/t Big Ten Football). “[Mendoza is] ahead of the defense all the time; he’s two steps ahead. He understands the back end, the front [and] he’s extremely accurate, poised; he can make you pay with his feet. He can make you pay with his arm; he understands protections really well.
“[Mendoza] anticipates like no other [and] he really has distinguished himself as the best football player in the country this year, and it’s not by accident. A lot of reps, a lot of hard work. A guy that has been a complete difference maker for their program.”
Raiders Receive Compelling QB Comp for Fernando Mendoza
The Raiders have a few months before they need to make a decision, with the draft not arriving until April. Free agency is also approaching, allowing the Silver and Black to address several needs thanks to their available cap space.
In particular, the team could use free agency to strengthen the offensive line and potentially add depth at wide receiver to support their potential franchise quarterback.
If minority owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek need any convincing that Mendoza is their guy, former NFL head coach Bruce Arians didn’t hold back on his thoughts regarding the Indiana star.
“I think he’s got all the traits, man, and drinking beer is one of them, especially with the offensive line,” Arians said on the Jan. 6 edition of the “Pat McAfee Show.”
“Every quarterback gotta to take care of his offensive line and maybe a top receiver or two. But he’s got all the measurables. The guy can spin it. He’s athletic. Reminds me a lot of Drake Maye coming out—same height, same speed. But yeah, he could place the ball anywhere he wants to put it.”
Bruce Arians Believes Fernando Mendoza Can Succeed in NFL
Moreover, Arians continued his praise of Mendoza, noting that the quarterback has the mental side of the game down to succeed at the NFL level, whether with the Raiders or another organization.
“I think the volume of defense that young quarterbacks see is just so huge,” Arians added. “They might see four coverages in college, and maybe five blitzes, versus eight or nine different variations of coverage and twenty different blitzes in a game.
“Mendoza looks like he can handle the pressure extremely well. He seems very bright. Haven’t sat down with him; I’d love to sit down with him, put him on the board, and get to know him a little better. But he just looks like he’s got the cerebral part down bad.”
Raiders Get Strong Words on Fernando Mendoza Amid Draft Link