The Las Vegas Raiders have had a couple of days of rookie minicamp, including for No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, who is getting acquainted with his fellow rookies.
Moreover, one rookie who’s getting a lot of work with Mendoza is Trey Zuhn. The Silver and Black took the 23-year-old offensive lineman in the third round, No. 91 overall, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
On May 2, Zuhn spoke with reporters, sharing his initial thoughts on Mendoza, whom he will need to protect at some point this upcoming 2026 season.
“It’s been great getting to know him, getting to talk with him off the field, on the field, working the playbook,” Zuhn told reporters. “We had a walkthrough last night, getting some snaps and time together.
“So it’s been great getting to know him… He’s a guy’s guy; he connects with everybody. He’s super friendly, easy to talk to, and getting to know everybody. So he’s a great leader, and I’m happy to be working with him.”
Moreover, Zuhn spoke about forming a bond with Mendoza as both players adjust to playing under center.
“That’s been awesome because we didn’t do very much under center at A&M either,“ Zuhn added. “It’s been great getting those extra reps. I texted him at midnight in the hotel room last night and just got some extra reps under center. So, getting ready to roll.”
Fernando Mendoza Gives Update on Learning Raiders’ Offense
Meanwhile, on May 2, Mendoza spoke with Las Vegas media and shared an update on his progress in understanding the playbook as he looks to be ready when OTAs get underway.
“[Kubiak] won a Super Bowl last year, so I saw a lot of him,“ Mendoza told reporters. “I love watching NFL football on Sundays, so I watched a lot of Coach Kubiak. Then, when I was drafted and got here, I was able to get the playbook.
“However, going now to be in the facility and having access to the film and seeing the application, seeing Kirk Cousins do it back in Minnesota, seeing Sam Darnold do it last year in Seattle, seeing the application and how it’s supposed to be executed and how it’s done at a high level is really beneficial for my development.
“That’s something from coming in Day 1, just seeing it on paper and taking it in, and then Day 2, last night with the coaches, really studying, ‘OK, this is how Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold did it. This is how their footwork and eyes looked.'”
Maxx Crosby on Las Vegas Drafting Fernando Mendoza
Las Vegas hopes that Mendoza can take command of the team before the prime years of Maxx Crosby are over. Still, the Raiders pass rusher is excited for what the future holds now that the Silver and Black have someone to lead them for the foreseeable future.
“We got Fernando,“ Crosby said on the April 28 edition of “The Rush.“ “I think it was one of the worst-kept secrets in sports [and] I don’t think it was a surprise, but I know everybody’s fired up that he’s part of our team now; I had the chance to have a great conversation with him when he came on his visit. I got to chop it up with him a little bit, and then on draft night, got on FaceTime and talked to him.
“We’ve been texting back and forth ever since. I’m really fired up for him, excited to take him under my wing and help him out, show him the way and just encourage him to be himself and lead in his own way. So, fired up for him and his family. I know it was a big moment.”
Trey Zuhn Doesn’t Hold Back on Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza