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Separating Fact From Fiction: Mendoza, the Draft, and the Coaching Carousel
Breaking down Mendoza on tape, the Raiders’ draft path, and the latest coaching buzz.
Jesse Merrick
January 23, 2026
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QUOTE OF THE DAY"This was the year where he got better at getting to his second and third read in the progression and having more answers. You can see there are still times where he freezes a little bit late in the read. If you can tell when he gets a little bit fooled, but he's gotten so much better. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the country, one of our highest graded quarterbacks in the country at seeing safety rotations and things of that nature. He got better as the year went on, got better against the Blitz as the year went on, and was more trusting of his receivers when throwing into man-to-man coverage. You go back and look at the Alabama game; they threw a lot of zero blitzes at him, and he was willing to take those chances outside. You look at you know times against Ohio State or some other teams where they would rotate safeties on him, and he would find those answers. So I'm really not worried about him mentally.” — PFF’s Dalton Wasserman refuting the narrative that Mendoza is a one- to two-read quarterback. If you’d like to hear Dalton dismantle the other narrative knocking Mendoza for playing in a heavy RPO-style offense and why that won’t translate to the league, watch our podcast below. |  |
In today’s newsletter, we dig into why some of the perceived knocks on Fernando Mendoza don’t really show up when you dive into the tape or the numbers. We also run a three-round Raiders mock draft, update you on the coaching carousel (and read the tea leaves a bit), hear from Maxx Crosby, and take a step back to look at some of the schematic trends shaping the NFL right now.
If you’re enjoying our newsletter, share it with a friend — the bigger our audience grows, the better the conversation gets.
RAIDERS MOCK DRAFT
Let’s take a way too early look at the draft, our latest Silver & Black Sports Network podcast goes far beyond just making the No. 1 pick. I’m joined by Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus for a Raiders mock draft built around strategy, roster construction, and how to properly build around a franchise quarterback. Yes, it starts with Fernando Mendoza at the top — but we dig into what he actually does well on tape, why some of the common narratives surrounding him don’t hold up, and how the Raiders should build around him from day one. We also dive into realistic targets in Rounds 2 and 3, plus coaching carousel updates and playoff best bets. If you’re looking for a real draft blueprint, this episode is worth the watch.
THE COACHING CAROUSEL KEEPS ON SPINNING
The coaching carousel kept spinning Thursday when the Baltimore Ravens hired Jesse Minter as their next head coach, bringing the total to five jobs filled so far. That leaves the Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, and your Las Vegas Raiders still searching for their next head coach. Minter had completed his second interview with the Raiders earlier this week, but he’s obviously off the board now.
As things stand, offshore books currently list Klint Kubiak (-110), Davis Webb (+300), and Matt LaFleur (+350) as the favorites to land the Raiders job. Of course, it wasn’t all that long ago those same books thought Brian Flores was the next man up in Vegas, so take that for what it’s worth. That said, I get the sense Kubiak and Webb are at the top of the Raiders’ list. I’m not reporting anything here — just reading the tea leaves — and I also wouldn’t rule out a scenario where Vance Joseph works his way back into the mix, potentially bringing Webb with him as his offensive coordinator. Pure spitballing, but it’s an interesting exercise.
Either way, with another defensive-minded coach off the board in Minter — a guy I really liked for the Raiders if they went that direction — it’s starting to feel more likely they tab an offensive coach to lead the charge and guide Fernando Mendoza into the future. Patience is still required, though. Coaches currently in the playoffs can’t sit for first or second interviews right now due to NFL rules. Next week should be busy, as teams eliminated this weekend can interview freely, while coaches on Super Bowl-bound staffs can meet during the bye week. Given how far the Raiders have pushed this search, they must feel confident they’ll be able to land one of the candidates still coaching.
MAXX SPEAKS
Speaking of the coaching search, Maxx Crosby said this week that he hasn’t been kept in the loop on the Raiders’ head coaching search — which, honestly, isn’t all that unusual. A lot of teams don’t involve their star players in those decisions. What is noteworthy, though, is that he mentioned he hasn’t spoken with the team in “the last couple weeks.”
Is that a massive deal? I really don’t think so. Unless the Raiders go completely rogue and make a wildly questionable hire, I still expect Maxx to be back in Vegas. He’s said multiple times over the years, whenever trade rumors pop up, that he wants to retire a Raider. Yes, he’s staring down yet another coaching change and another scheme, but for the first time in a while, there’s a clear path forward at quarterback. The roster still has holes, no doubt — but if Fernando Mendoza is the real deal and the Raiders land the right head coach, things should start moving in the right direction. And Maxx surely sees that, too.
LOL
Fernando Mendoza is one hell of a character. Fresh off winning the National Championship, he went ahead and updated his LinkedIn profile — and it’s exactly what you’d expect. If Fernando Mendoza does end up becoming the Raiders’ next quarterback, he’s going to be a blast to cover — and a lot of fun for you guys to watch on Sundays.
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MISS ANYTHING?
Catch up on some of our recent stories:
 Why the Raiders’ Coaching Search Looks Different This Time— A deeper look at the candidates, the schemes, and the direction of the search. |  Inside the Raiders’ Coaching Search — Beyond the Name Game— A scheme-based look at the coaches interviewing with the Raiders |
THIS DAY (OR YESTERDAY) IN RAIDERS HISTORY
REQUIRED READING
The NFL is always evolving, and the article linked above from Pro Football Focus breaks down the five biggest schematic trends that emerged over the 2025 regular season. It’s a smart way to wrap your head around how the league shifted this year and gives you a fresh lens for evaluating some of the coaches currently in the Raiders’ mix — especially when it comes to how their schemes line up with what’s actually trending around the league. If you want context that goes beyond names and into how football is being played today, this is worth your time.
RAIDERS ROUNDERS
Each week, I team up with betting analyst Matt Perrault (The Bostonian vs The Book, The Daily Juice) to spotlight the best Raiders bets of the week and a few smart plays from around the NFL. Think of it as the perfect mix of insider football talk and betting insight, giving you a sharper look at how Vegas views the Silver & Black — from player props to game lines — and where the edges might be heading into Sunday.
Obviously the Raiders aren’t in on the postseason action, but Raiders Rounders rolls on anyway. With that in mind, here are Matt’s plays for the AFC and NFC Championship games:
Broncos +5.5: Bo Nix or not, Matt thinks 5.5 is too many points.
Seahawks -2.5: Mat’s laying the points and taking the Seahawks in this one.
⚠️ Disclaimer: Raiders Rounders is all about sharing our perspective on the game. These aren’t betting recommendations — any wagers you place are 100% your responsibility. Bet responsibly.
FANSHOTZ FRIDAY
Photo Courtesy: Arnie Bazemore/Fan Shotz
“FanShotz Friday”
By now, you have seen the phenomenal photos we’ve been using in many of our newsletters. They’re some of the best shots you’ll find of your favorite team, captured through the lens of our friend Arnie Bazemore of Fanshotz.com. Every Friday, we’ll feature Arnie’s favorite Raiders shot of the week that he captures at practice or on game day.
This week, we’re digging deep into Arnie’s camera roll and featuring a photo he snagged of Brock Bowers back in week two of the 2024 NFL season. Then a rookie, Brock Bowers hauled in nine catches for 98 yards which was a sign of things to come because he’d crack the 90+ yard mark five more times in his debut season. This is one of my all-time favorite shots from Arnie’s arsenal. Brock’s also been on my mind a lot watching Fernando Mendoza, the two of them will be quiet the pairing. Once they get on the same page they could be lethal with those back shoulder balls Fernando showed off this season.
Check out Arnie’s work at his site linked above and reach out if you’re interested in working with him. He’s a great guy and has been so supportive of me over the years when I was at NBC here in Vegas, and he’s come along for the ride with Silver & Black Sports Network, too.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Keep an eye on the coaching carousel. After the conference championship games wrap up, things may move pretty quickly for the Raiders depending on who’s left standing.
In the mean time, keep an eye out for our next podcast dropping at 9:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday.
Catch ya next time,
Silver & Black Sports Network is an independent media outlet. We are not affiliated with, endorsed, or sponsored by the Las Vegas Raiders or the NFL.
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