Troy Aikman weighs in on Fernando Mendoza's future as the Raiders' franchise quarterback
Aikman offers high praise for Fernando Mendoza after the Raiders rookie's preseason debut
The Las Vegas Raiders may have found the quarterback they hope can define their next era, and Troy Aikman believes Fernando Mendoza has the qualities needed to become that player.
Mendoza received an extended opportunity Thursday night as Las Vegas defeated the Houston Texans 22-20 in preseason action.
With Kirk Cousins among the starters who didn't play, rookie quarterback Mendoza took the first-team snaps and remained on the field throughout the opening half.
The No. 1 overall pick wasn't flawless. He completed 8 of 15 attempts for 86 yards, was sacked once and threw an interception that Houston's Wade Woodaz returned 80 yards for a touchdown. Still, Aikman wasn't discouraged by the mistake.
"I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but he has shown me already, in such a short time, that this young man is capable of being a really great player in this league,” Aikman said during the broadcast.
Aikman's endorsement emphasized that quarterbacks entering the NFL must demonstrate leadership and a willingness to handle the small details that separate successful players from talented ones.
Aikman sees the pieces for Mendoza to thrive
Aikman also sees reasons for optimism around Mendoza . He highlighted head coach Klint Kubiak's offensive coaching and identified tight end Brock Bowers and running back Ashton Jeanty as two foundational pieces who could help the young quarterback.
“I think that with Klint Kubiak, he’s going to have good coaching on the offensive side of the ball,” said Aikman .
“I do like some of these young players that they have. Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers . I mean, that’s a pretty good place to start to have those two cornerstone pieces offensively.”
The Raiders still have work to do, particularly when it comes to protecting Mendoza and improving their receiving corps. But Aikman doesn't believe every weakness needs to be solved immediately.
That patience could prove important. Mendoza isn't guaranteed to open the regular season as the starter, with veteran Cousins still in the quarterback picture.
Nevertheless, the rookie's long-term importance is obvious after Las Vegas made him the first selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. He arrived after leading Indiana to an undefeated national championship season and winning the Heisman Trophy.
Mendoza also understands that development won't happen overnight. After Thursday's game, he explained that his preparation hadn't changed despite knowing he'd receive the entire first half. He approached the opportunity as he would any start, focusing on preparation and learning.
