Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is making significant strides in his development, largely crediting veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for his rapid progress. Mendoza, who joined the Raiders after a standout college career, has been serving as a backup and learning from Cousins.
Mendoza recently appeared on the NFL Network show "Inside Training Camp," where he shared his experience working with Cousins. "I've picked up so much from Kirk, not only his veteran experience but also he's had experience with Coach (Klint) Kubiak in Minnesota," Mendoza told hosts Rhett Lewis and Michael Robinson. He highlighted Cousins' ability to draw parallels between current offensive installations and past plays from their time together in Minnesota, providing valuable context for the rookie.
"It's more listening than sometimes asking," Mendoza noted about his approach to learning from Cousins, emphasizing his eagerness to absorb the veteran's insights. He also acknowledged the valuable mentorship he's receiving from offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko and fellow quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who has prior NFL experience with the Raiders.
Cousins, who has a history of mentoring younger quarterbacks, spent the last two seasons developing Michael Penix Jr. with the Atlanta Falcons. After his release from the Falcons in February, Cousins signed with the Raiders in April, with a role to start if needed and to mentor Mendoza, who was a top draft selection.
Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and led his college team to a national championship last season, has reportedly enjoyed his time in Las Vegas. The team has also seen Mendoza practice with the first-team offense on occasion, including recently when Cousins and defensive player Maxx Crosby were held out of practice following a Friday altercation.