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The Traits That Have the Raiders Excited About Fernando Mendoza
The rookie QB is earning praise across the building, a young receiver keeps making plays, and Week 2 of OTAs gave us plenty to talk about.
Jesse Merrick
May 29, 2026
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QUOTE OF THE DAY"Yeah, Brock is awesome. Brock has got like that killer mindset in him, doesn't talk much, just goes out there and works. I'm surprised you guys even get him in here to talk, but he's been awesome. Just seeing guys like that, breath of fresh air, just how they operate, how they go about their business. You want guys like that on your team, and that's what you appreciate." — More love for Brock Bowers — the "football robot from heaven" — this week from Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum. |  Photo Courtesy: Michael Clemens/Las Vegas Raiders |
In today’s newsletter, we break down the biggest takeaways from Week 2 of Raiders OTAs, including why coaches and teammates continue to rave about Fernando Mendoza. We also take a closer look at Malik Benson, who keeps on flashing at practice. Plus, thoughts on Brock Bowers, what we heard from Andrew Janocko, Tyler Linderbaum, and Tre Tucker, and a few key observations as the Raiders continue laying the foundation for Year 1 under Klint Kubiak.
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INSIDE WEEK TWO OF RAIDERS OTAs
Week 2 of OTAs is in the books, and the Raiders’ offense is starting to take shape. In our latest podcast, I break down the biggest takeaways from practice, including Kirk Cousins’ command of the offense, Fernando Mendoza’s development, Brock Bowers continuing to get open at will, Malik Benson’s strong start, and Tre Tucker stepping into a leadership role.
LOL
“He's going to be a really great player, man. He can run all day, he's fast. The best thing about him is he's very coachable and willing to learn. He's another guy, like I said, my phone's always open, he's texting me. Remember, I get into bed very early, I'm getting old, so he FaceTimed me, and I was like, ‘Man, I'm already in bed.’ But I was able to help him out with what he needed and that's all that matters. And, like I said, he's going to be a great player. I'm very excited about him and his willingness to learn, take coaching. He's going to be a great player.”
This one nearly won quote of the day, but I had to separate the two.
For starters, four years into his NFL career, Tre Tucker is already an old man, apparently going to bed at 8:30 p.m. But as he said, “Sleep, that's the best recovery, and it's free, so got to take advantage of it.” More importantly, he’s clearly taking the mentorship role seriously, and you’ve got to love that.
The second part of this — and probably one of the more exciting developments to come out of OTAs — is how much Malik Benson has flashed. As you can see from Tre’s comments above, the rookie is doing all the right things off the field. On the field, he stood out during the first week of OTAs, and he popped again this week. He found space on multiple occasions and reportedly connected with Fernando Mendoza on a back-shoulder throw down the sideline for a chunk play.
It’s way too early to make any sweeping declarations, but with his speed and willingness to do more of the dirty work than most so-called speedsters, Benson is an intriguing player to keep an eye on moving forward.
MENDOZA’S MENTALITY
Fernando Mendoza had an up-and-down day at practice on Thursday, according to reporters who were in attendance. (I had a scheduling conflict this week and wasn’t able to make it out to Raiders HQ.)
But Mendoza responded when he got his second crack at team drills, reportedly hooking up with Malik Benson on the back-shoulder shot we mentioned above for a chunk play.
We heard Klint Kubiak say last week that Mendoza was “as advertised,” and this week his offensive coordinator and teammates continued to speak highly of him. Andrew Janocko said Mendoza simply wants to grind, and it’s clear he wants to be great. Janocko specifically pointed to Mendoza’s ability to take coaching points from the classroom and immediately apply them on the field as something that has stood out since he arrived in Las Vegas.
“I think anytime you come out there, if there's something that he needs to improve on, he takes that step, whether it be getting away from center, or it'd be something where he gets through a progression either too fast or maybe he's a little too slow on stuff. Just creating efficiency for himself in the classroom, creating efficiency with his mental process, or creating efficiency as he processes on the field, being able to take what we've done in the classroom to the individual drill, taking the individual drill then into the team drill. As you see that apply, that's where a quarterback grows."
That kind of approach is going to fire up a coach, but his teammates say they see it, too. And look, it’s easy to throw hollow praise at a No. 1 overall pick in May. But when you hear Tre Tucker talk about Mendoza’s mentality, it’s easy to see why so many people around the building are excited about him.
"I would say his mentality as a rookie is elite. I mean, it's insane. For where he's been throughout his career, it's insane, and it's also really cool to see. I mean, he was the number one overall pick, but you would think that he comes in as an undrafted guy, the way he works, the way his mentality is, and you know that's really what you want for a guy like that. He knows his expectations are big for him, and you know he's got a bright future, but he's been tremendous and I'm very excited to work alongside of him."
The way I read those two quotes, the kid is a fast learner and he’s got the right mindset. Add that to the traits that got him drafted No. 1 overall, and you’ve got the makings of a difference-maker. It’s all talk right now, but so far, so good on the Mendoza front.
Keep in mind, though, that even if he wins the job — or if the staff eventually turns things over to him after letting Kirk Cousins lead the charge for part of the season — there could still be some bumps in the road.
Graphic Courtesy: CBS Sports HQ
As you can see in the graphic from CBS Sports HQ, the first season after drafting a quarterback No. 1 overall is rarely pretty. But look at what most of those teams eventually became (Titans aside), and history suggests the Raiders could be headed in the right direction.
Sound familiar?
Over 4 million people have had the same lightbulb moment.
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MISS ANYTHING?
Catch up on some of our recent stories:
 Can Ashton Jeanty Handle a Christian McCaffrey-Type Workload?— Klint Kubiak may have just revealed how massive Ashton Jeanty’s role could become — plus our biggest takeaways from week one of Raiders OTAs. |  The 8-Game Stretch That Could Define the Raiders’ 2026 Season— The schedule sets up nicely early, but a brutal midseason gauntlet will define 2026 for the Silver & Black. |
BREAKING DOWN WHAT THEY’RE BUILDING
In case you missed it, Q Myers from Raider Nation Radio joined me on Tuesday’s podcast for a big-picture look at where the Raiders stand after rookie minicamp and the first week of OTAs. More than anything, this conversation was about the vision John Spytek, Klint Kubiak, and Rob Leonard have for this team — and why, for the first time in a while, it actually seems like the pieces are coming together. We dove into Fernando Mendoza’s development, Kirk Cousins taking command of the offense, Ashton Jeanty’s potentially massive role, how Brock Bowers will be used alongside the other pass catchers, and what the revamped defense may actually look like in 2026. If you want the full deep dive on where this rebuild is headed, this is definitely an episode worth checking out.
TOM ON HAND TO TAKE IN PRACTICE
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 featuring a shot of Jalen Nailor. He was back out at practice this week and is one of many intriguing pieces in the Raiders’ wide receiver core. In Minnesota he was stuck behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, so with a much clearer path in front of him for a larger role in this offense it will be interesting to see how impactful he can be.
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?
The weekend! You can’t beat a short week. Hopefully you had a great one, too. We’ll catch you guys next on the podcast on Tuesday, and we’ll get another shot to see the team out on the field for their final week of OTAs on Wednesday. Until then, enjoy the weekend!
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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