What happened: Fernando Mendoza said Wednesday that he feels "a lot more confident" and "more developed" as he prepares to step into the starting quarterback role for the Las Vegas Raiders. The rookie was elevated to the top of the depth chart following the team's trade of Kirk Cousins to Minnesota.
Why it matters: Las Vegas committed its future to Mendoza after selecting him first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Indiana. At 4-5 on the season, the Raiders now pivot toward evaluating their young passer against live regular-season competition.
By the numbers: Mendoza has completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards in 2026 through 1 game.
What to watch: Mendoza is scheduled to make his first career NFL start on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.