Curt Cignetti says Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders success may be out of his hands

Expectations surrounding Fernando Mendoza couldn't be much higher after the Las Vegas Raiders used the first overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on the former Indiana quarterback.

But Curt Cignetti , who coached Mendoza during his remarkable college rise, believes judging the rookie purely on his own performances would ignore how dependent any quarterback is on the players around him.

“Well, I think he’s got the tools, and mentally, he’s extremely smart, dedicated, committed, does everything he can to be the best he can be, a great teammate, and a great leader,” Cignetti told NFL on ESPN.

“He’s a great competitor on the field. He’s got a quick arm; he’s got good arm strength, and he’s got good mobility. So, he’s got a body of work out there, and he’s going to be a really good pro.”

Cignetti highlights what Mendoza needs from Raiders

The bigger uncertainty for Cignetti isn't whether Mendoza possesses NFL quality, but whether Las Vegas can create the conditions necessary for him to show it immediately.

“People ask me, ‘How do you think he’s going to do this year?’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know a whole lot about the Raiders, to be honest with you,’” Cignetti said.

“You know, you’ve got to have protection. You’ve got to have guys that can separate. You’ve got to have a run game. You’ve got to be able to play defense and special teams. It all goes hand in hand.”

That supporting cast could become particularly important following an uneven start to Mendoza's pro career .

Fernando Mendoza facing pressure after preseason struggles

Across his first two preseason appearances, Mendoza completed 18 of 31 passes, while taking two sacks and throwing one interception.

His numbers when pressured have attracted particular attention, with the rookie ranking near the bottom of preseason quarterbacks in both EPA per attempt and completion percentage under pressure.

It's a significant change from the environment Mendoza enjoyed at Indiana, where strong protection, dependable offensive weapons and an effective defense helped him flourish on his way to becoming college football's standout player.

That means his early fortunes in Las Vegas could depend heavily on whether the Raiders can keep him protected and provide enough offensive support.

Cignetti , though, remains convinced that even if success doesn't arrive immediately, his former quarterback will eventually establish himself.

“But he’s going to be a good pro if not this year, sometime soon,” he said.