Fernando Mendoza went from Heisman Trophy winner and national champion to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in a matter of months. The expectation when Las Vegas selected the Indiana quarterback was straightforward: veteran Kirk Cousins would start while Mendoza learned the offense behind a quarterback who knows head coach Klint Kubiak’s system from their time together with the Minnesota Vikings.
That timeline, however, may already be accelerating. Mendoza has made a “strong impression” in his first month with the Raiders, and the NFL world on social media has taken notice.
NFL World Calls for Fernando Mendoza to Start in Week 1
The discussion on social media sparked after NFL insider Adam Schefter shared an update on the Raiders’ star rookie. “Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has already made a strong impression during his first month with the Las Vegas Raiders, with coach Klint Kubiak saying the No. 1 pick has been “as advertised,” Schefter said on X.
Analysts then shared their desire for Mendoza to be under center when the Raiders host the Miami Dolphins on September 13 in Week 1, a game that carries extra narrative weight given that Mendoza grew up in South Florida and attended Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.
“Should be Day 1 starter,” wrote former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel on X.
“Who cares what the schedule looks like — start him Week 1 and let’s rock,” Chris Brockman, who works on “The Rich Eisen Show,” said about Mendoza.
The enthusiasm for Mendoza is reasonable, as the quarterback’s last season in college was nearly flawless. In his lone season at Indiana, he completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, leading the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and the program’s first national championship.
In three College Football Playoff starts, he posted an 8:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio and earned National Championship Game Offensive MVP honors. According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metric, Mendoza posted an impact score of 93.3, ranking second behind Diego Pavia.
“He should be starting Week 1,” wrote David Kromelow.
“Will it be Kirk Cousins over Fernando Mendoza as starter when the Raiders play Mendoza’s hometown Dolphins Week 1?,” Miami Dolphins reporter David Furones wrote on X after the report about Raiders rookie’s impressive performances.
Pre-draft evaluators consistently compared Mendoza to a younger, bigger version of Cousins. The former Indiana star also offers more mobility as a runner. Mendoza’s ceiling is higher, and many believe the fastest way to unlock it is by actually playing games.
The case for patience, though, is just as strong. If Mendoza struggles too early and gets benched, the confidence hit could set back his development in ways that are difficult to reverse.
The smarter path for Las Vegas is to let Cousins start the season and allow the situation to evolve naturally. If the veteran struggles, Mendoza can step in with a month’s worth of NFL-speed preparation. Moreover, there’s no need to rush a potential franchise quarterback when the Raiders haven’t won a playoff game since 2002, and getting this right matters more than getting it fast.
