Overview
- Mendoza said his formal meeting with Las Vegas was "fantastic," noting film review and whiteboard work with Klint Kubiak and the staff.
- He told reporters he briefly greeted Raiders minority owner Tom Brady by phone and welcomed the chance to learn from him as a mentor.
- Las Vegas owns the No. 1 pick after a 2-15 season, and an ESPN poll of NFL insiders predicted the Raiders will keep the selection for Mendoza.
- Scouting reports across outlets highlight Mendoza’s accuracy and toughness, with development needed transitioning from RPO-heavy shotgun to Kubiak’s under‑center, play‑action scheme.
- Some analysts continue to argue for a trade down to stockpile picks and rebuild the roster, pointing to a deeper 2027 quarterback class as an alternative path.