Las Vegas rookie Fernando Mendoza says he still has work to do under center as he prepares for his 2026 debut season with the Raiders.
Fernando Mendoza knows exactly where his focus needs to be as the Las Vegas Raiders move closer to his rookie season, and it starts with getting comfortable under center.
Mendoza, the No.. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. said Saturday that he still has a “long way to go” when it comes to learning the Raiders offense from that position.. With rookie minicamp underway and sessions set to run through Sunday. Misryoum reports that Mendoza has been taking extra repetitions with his centers in the team hotel. continuing the work outside the normal practice window.
This matters because the ability to execute cleanly under center often sets the tone for timing, play-action consistency, and the comfort level of the entire backfield.
As he adds those details to his game plan, expectations around Mendoza remain high.. He arrives with elite college production, including Heisman Trophy honors after a standout junior season at Indiana in 2025.. Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 72.0% of his passes, and he limited interceptions with six picks.. He also contributed as a runner, adding 276 rushing yards and seven rushing scores.
Now, the transition from college to the NFL is about more than athletic upside. Misryoum notes that learning the nuances of the Raiders’ system, including how and when to operate from under center, will be central to turning raw talent into reliable weekly execution.
That challenge is amplified by context within Las Vegas, where the team is coming off a difficult season that ended with a 3-14 record. The Raiders are counting on their offseason investment to begin paying off quickly, even as Mendoza builds comfort one step at a time.
In this context, Mendoza’s willingness to work on the details early is a strong signal of how he plans to meet the moment. If the fundamentals click, the Raiders could see real momentum as his rookie year approaches.