Eric Stokes spoke on Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s biggest weapon that will make him elite.
The Las Vegas Raiders got a humbling moment on Thursday when number one overall draft pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw a pick-six against the Houston Texans during the preseason game between the two teams. Still, Mendoza was able to shake off the mistake and make some solid plays as the game continued.
Recently, Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes spoke on what makes Mendoza so special.
“The back shoulder throws are a killer. …He’s just growing, day by day, to where you can see it in his play, talk and confidence,” said Stokes, per Ryan McFadden of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter.
Indeed, Mendoza has been lauded for his back shoulder throws dating back to his college days at Indiana, where he won the Heisman Trophy and helped guide the Hoosiers to their first national championship in school history.
Mendoza’s epic season made him the consensus choice for the number one overall draft pick, which Las Vegas had thanks to their abysmal season in 2025. Most pundits have speculated that Mendoza will begin the season on the sidelines learning from veteran Kirk Cousins, whom the team brought in during the free agency period, but it’s only a matter of time before Mendoza gets his own opportunity to start under center for Las Vegas.
While Thursday’s pick-six was certainly a learning moment for the young prospect, there’s clearly no shortage of confidence in Mendoza from his teammates and coaches as the preseason continues.
In any case, the Raiders’ regular season is slated to get underway on September 13 with a home game against the Miami Dolphins.
The Las Vegas Raiders got a humbling moment on Thursday when number one overall draft pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw a pick-six against the Houston Texans during the preseason game between the two teams. Still, Mendoza was able to shake off the mistake and make some solid plays as the game continued.