QB · LV · 27 yrs · exp 3 · Purdue
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Latest: Jul 24, 2026 · 506
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As NFL training camps begin, Yahoo Sports writers highlight eight rookies to watch, including Fernando Mendoza and Arvell Reese. Mendoza, the Raiders' No. 1 pick, may sit behind Kirk Cousins but is expected to play in preseason games. Reese, a hybrid defender from Ohio State, was a surprise pick for the Giants
The Las Vegas Raiders’ rookies report to training camp on Thursday, meaning the Raiders’ 2026 NFL draft class will have its first chance to make a stamp on the roster soon. With that in mind, let’s dive into the best- and worst-case scenarios for each of Las Vegas ’ 10 draft picks during training camp. Best case: Win starting QB job While it seems like the coaching staff’s plan is for Kirk Cousins to begin the season as the starter, even Cousins has said that the best quarterback needs to be on the field. And let’s be honest, the “competition” is less about Cousins versus Mendoza and more about Mendoza battling himself. If the rookie proves that he’s ready to be thrown into the fire during camp, he should be the Week 1 starter. Worst case: Falling behind Aidan O’Connell It’s completely reasonable for the No. 1 pick to begin the year on the bench and take some time to get adjusted to the NFL before being ready for action. However, if he doesn’t prove capable of at least holding down the backup job, then that could be a bad sign that the franchise is in trouble. Best case: Win starting FS job The Raiders’ defense desperately needs someone on the backend who can create turnovers. That’s a big reason why Stukes likely enters training camp as the favorite to take over for Isaiah Pola-Mao at free safety. Ball skills are one of the Arizona product’s biggest strengths, making him exactly what the secondary needs right now. Worst case: Struggle to find a position While the second-rounder is a versatile defender, sometimes those types of prospects can have a hard time finding a home in the NFL because they fall into the “jack of all trades, master of none” category. That has the potential to happen with Stukes, especially since he was primarily a nickelback and had very little experience playing free safety in college. Best case: Become third-down rusher As long as Maxx Crosby is on the roster, it’s hard to see Crawford winning a starting job over Crosby and free agent signing Kwity Paye in year one. However, it’s not out of the question for the third-round pick to beat out Malcolm Koonce as the defense’s third-down rusher. Koonce is living off an impressive nine-game run during the second half of the 2023 season, but he hasn’t done much outside of that stretch. That leaves the door open for the rookie to take over the role moving forward. Worst case: Fall into “healthy scratch” category Even if he’s awful in training camp, it’s highly unlikely that the 67th overall pick will get cut. But he is a project who needs development, and it wouldn’t be out of the question for a Top 100 selection to barely see the field as a rookie. Just ask Caleb Rogers and Charles Grant . The depth chart at edge is already crowded with Crosby, Paye and Koonce at the top, while Cian Slone and Brennan Jackson are also looking to make names for themselves to put some pressure on Crawford. Best case: Become a surprise starter Zuhn coming out of camp with a starting job would be a surprise since he isn’t a favorite to win either guard battle or take over at right tackle. But he should be in the mix at both spots, and it isn’t like Spencer Burford , Jackson Powers-Johnson, Rogers, Jordan Meredith , DJ Glaze and Charles Grant are such heavy favorites that the rookie third-round pick doesn’t have a fighter’s chance. Worst case: Fall into “healthy scratch” category On the other side of the coin, there is a world where 2026 is a “redshirt year” for Zuhn, especially since he’s another versatile player who will be finding his true position at the next level. That doesn’t mean the third-round pick will be a bust and never see the field during his tenure in Las Vegas, but it would certainly be underwhelming if he doesn’t get much playing time as a rookie. Best case: Win a starting CB job It’s been said multiple times throughout the offseason that McCoy is the most talented corner on the Raiders’ roster, and his ability to become a starter is primarily jus [... truncated ...]
Despite a disappointing sophomore season due to injuries and a shift in offensive scheme, Brock Bowers is expected to bounce back in 2026. New head coach Klint Kubiak's arrival and improved quarterback play with Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza should lead to a rise in targets for Bowers, who is already ranked as the top fantasy tight end by RotoBaller and is being considered a dark horse candidate for Offensive Player of the Year
Raiders redundancy is apt at the quarterback position. No, I’m not referring to having super veteran Kirk Cousins , No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, and another vet Aidan O’Connell as the top trio in the quarterback room. That’s quite important, don’t get me wrong. It’s having Klint Kubiak as the head coach and primary offensive play caller and his trusted “fixer” Andrew Janocko as his offensive coordinator . Both served as as quarterback coaches in their respective careers and the initial thought was the experience shared between them both, a true QB coach wasn’t necessarily required. Enter: Mike Sullivan. The veteran quarterback guru was added to Kubiak’s staff and now, the Las Vegas Raiders have a three-headed monster to help develop, guide, and teach a reformed quarterbacks room. And Sullivan’s presence on top of Kubiak’s and Janocko’s is a boon for the Silver & Black. Case-in-point: Cousins, who enters his 15th season in the NFL at 37 years old, is taking full advantage of the coaching staff resources available to him. “And there’s so many resources in this building, and it’s exciting to go to work every day and have that many people,” Cousins began, “I mean, Mike Sullivan has been Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning . I mean, I can just go on and on asking, ”What did this guy do, what were his habits like, what drills did he like, how did he get ready, how did he handle the playoffs?” And I’ve got so many people who can help me.” Sullivan’s attention to detail and dealing with duress are his calling card as a quarterback’s coach and that’s what the Raiders need to instill in their quarterbacks — particularly Mendoza. Sullivan brings over 20 years of NFL coaching experience, championship pedigree, proven track record with high-profile quarterbacks, alongside play-calling experience and pre-existing chemistry with the staff Kubiak assembled — all of which will be beneficial to his fellow coaches and, more importantly, the signal callers he’s in charge of. Add assistant head coach Mike McCoy to the mix and Las Vegas has a solid group of offensive minds who have experienced the highs and lows of quarterback development. The common thread amongst the group is prior working relationships. It’s common knowledge that’s quite true for Kubiak and Janocko who both come over from last season’s Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks . Kubiak also worked with Sullivan with the Denver Broncos during the 2018 season as the former was a young offensive assistant while the latter served as the quarterbacks coach. Janocko and Sullivan linked up on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff (2012-13) where the younger coach was an offensive quality control assistant and the veteran was the offensive coordinator. And McCoy and Kubiak were both on the Broncos staff in 2017 with the former serving as the offensive coordinator and latter being an offensive assistant. Each brings unique skillsets to the table, but so far, this offseason in Silver & Black, the group has a unified message that’s singular in purpose and spearheaded by Kubiak. “Yeah, I think it’s just about having one singular voice, and us being all together on it, whether it’s Klint, myself, Sully (Mike Sullivan), any of the guys that step in that position room, making sure that we have our wires together, that we’re making sure that we give one singular voice, whether it be to Kirk, whether it be to Aidan (O’Connell), or whether it be to Fernando (Mendoza), that when those guys hear that, they understand that there’s a clear message, and if it’s not clear, we get it fixed right away,” Janocko said. Las Vegas has four of them on the roster: Cousins, Mendoza, O’Connell and undrafted rookie Jacob Clark. And it’s a room that Sullivan spoke about in an interview on the team’s official website . “The four of them are all pros. Even though obviously Kirk (Cousins) has the most experience and has been in the most number of games, in terms of their approach, all of them are ju [... truncated ...]
The Las Vegas Raiders don’t break for training camp for another 6 weeks, but their has already been positional battles to start, and to be talked about. The Raiders coming off a 3-14 season are not going to pencil in their starters, there’s a lot of youth, and with that a lot of unproven talent. The Raiders completely overhauled their offense, defense, and special teams with a projected 29th ranking in the NFL for returning snaps largely due to many Carrol veterans & defensive veterans leaving the organization last off-season. With training cap set to break soon, some core battles on all three phases will take light. Starting QB: Kirk Cousins (80%) vs Fernando Mendoza (20%) Dark Horse: N/A The Raiders likely will need to see near complete perfect QB play from Fernando Mendoza for him to start week one over Kirk Cousins, and I doubt that will be the case. Mendoza rose his way into the first overall pick, but that isn’t without his concerns as well. Mendoza does force the ball at times, needs to learn to check the ball down, adjust to the NFL, work under center, drag his back toe consistently, avoid moving into sacks, and overall improve his QB generated sacks as well. I know that sounds like a lot of knocks on a first overall pick, and it could be, but it’s natural as a quarterback to need the time to adjust to the NFL & Las Vegas may be doing themselves, Mendoza, and others a benefit letting him learn the ropes early and learning from Klint Kubiak, Cousins, Brady , and others. As for Kirk Cousins, it’s his job to lose, but the last battle he did lose to Michael Penix . Cousins is what he is at this point, a bottom 2-3 starting QB and a higher end backup. The veteran has a decent arm, is smart, and wins with his ability to diagnose defenses, put the ball in good windows, and utilize his experience. I doubt he starts the full season, and I’m 50/50 on even half the season but this seems to be a battle for Cousins to lose. Aidan O’Connell, while impressing per Klint Kubiak, I don’t think even has a remote shot to start and I think it’s more likely he’s off the roster than starting week one. Rotational RB: Mike Washington (60%) vs Roman Hemby (30%) vs Dylan Laube (10%) Dark Horse: Chris Collier (1%), Non Roster RB (9%) Only having 5 running backs this part of camp seems a bit non traditional in the NFL, especially for Klint Kubiak. The Raiders drafted Mike Washington in the fourth round, though I don’t think he’s a lock for the rotational RB role. Washington struggles to create his own but he’s an electric one cut runner and can truly turn any 3-4 yard run into a 20+ rush if not longer. Washington is alright as a receiver, but doesn’t provide a ton of upside while also having some core fumble issues. For a 225 pound runningback, I’d also expect to see a bit more power. With his knocks, it may be more of a battle for the RB2 position than initially talked about. Washington has a high ceiling, and he surely can be someone to turn into a 600+ yard rusher over the course of his career but the vision will need to be refined, control the ball, and run with more power. Roman Hemby doesn’t have a high ceiling, but he’s foundational. Hemby is a decisive runner, blocks well, is an alright receiver, and while lacking long speed does show an ability to create for himself. Hemby may find a way to push for the roster which we will talk about later on. He has decent vision, but is truly a jack of all trades type runningback with a master of none skillset. Hemby can push to backup Jeanty and rotate more as a three runningback backfield by proving his immediate impact is overall better than Washington, something that isn’t discussed enough. Other than that it comes down to Laube, who I don’t see having a shot but he’s the best receiver in the bunch. Collier has a very small chance, he’s a quick decisive runner, but the others above provide more and there’s a chance the Raiders don’t like what they see and trade, sign, or claim another back. De [... truncated ...]
Aidan O’Connell has bounced up and down the Las Vegas Raiders’ depth chart pretty much from the moment he was drafted. When the 2023 fourth-round pick was first added to the Raiders’ roster , he was the third-string quarterback behind Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer . But after a strong preseason, while the other two quarterbacks struggled during the regular season and Josh McDaniels was eventually fired as head coach, O’Connell surpassed Garoppolo and Hoyer, making 10 starts as a rookie. The Purdue product played well enough to post a 5-5 record as a starter but not good enough to be handed the job moving forward. So, the Raiders signed Gardner Minshew to compete with O’Connell in 2024, with the former winning the battle in training camp. However, Minshew struggled and Antonio Pierce turned to O’Connell in Week 6, only for the latter to suffer an injury two weeks later and have a stint on injured reserve. Then, O’Connell spent all of last season as the third-stringer behind Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett , playing in just one game and for his third head coach in as many years, Pete Carroll, who was eventually fired. Between bouncing back and forth between the top and bottom of the depht chart, and having going on four head coaches and seven offensive coordinators (inlcuding interims), the four-year pro has been through the wringer in Las Vegas . “I joke that I had one play caller and one head coach my entire six years at Purdue, and so I think by the law of averages, I think something like this was coming my way,” O’Connell, after minicamp on June 10, said of the Raiders’ coaching turnover. “Obviously, didn’t expect it to be like this, but I’ve learned there are no wasted years in the NFL. Even when you’re losing, even when things are hard, you can still learn a lot. And I’ve learned a lot, even last year. “I only played in our last game for three quarters but learned a bunch just sitting on the sideline and watching. And being able to interact with a lot of coordinators I think has been good for me to really learn what I like, to learn what I think is the best way to play quarterback, the best way to play football. “…You can complain about it, [but] I really realize people really don’t care about that very much. Like people talk about a little bit having a lot of coordinators or coaches, but if I go out there and throw interceptions, no one’s really feeling bad for me. You got to produce in the NFL, and so besides my wife and my parents, no one’s really going to feel bad for me. So, I try to go out there and compete, no matter who’s calling plays or who’s out there.” O’Connell certainly is taking the situation in stride and saying all the right things. But that doesn’t change the fact that the days of him potentially being the Raiders’ quarterback of the future are likely over. While entering the season as a backup—and a third-stringer at that—isn’t foreign to him, this training camp will be different because the future in the franchise is sitting in the meeting room with him. If Las Vegas signing Kirk Cousins ahead of the 2026 NFL draft wasn’t a strong enough sign that the 2023 fourth-rounder isn’t in Klint Kubiak’s long-term plans, then using the No. 1 pick on Fernando Mendoza is. Facing another situation where he’s looking at being a third-stringer can be mentally draining, especially for someone who once had a legitmate shot at starting. But O’Connell seems to be maintaining his edge. “I’ve been competing basically every year since I was in high school, and so it’s really nothing new to me,” the backup quarterback replied when asked about the Raiders adding two QBs in the offseason. “Obviously, it’s new people, it’s a new playbook, but besides that, it’s still competing, trying to put your best foot forward every day, and quite literally, the only thing I can do is do my best. And so, just trying to focus on that, be a great teammate, and let it play out how it will.” For a someone at the bottom of the roster, p [... truncated ...]
Kirk Cousins rejected the label of 'mentor' to rookie QB Fernando Mendoza, stating that the Raiders' quarterback room is a collaborative environment where all signal-callers, including Aidan O'Connell, learn from each other. Cousins emphasized that his experience with Klint Kubiak's offense, gained in Minnesota, is shared, and that he also learns from his younger teammates
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza stated he is improving daily, though he is currently practicing with the third and second string units. He aims to win the starting job behind veteran Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell
O'Connell appears headed for the emergency No. 3 quarterback role in Las Vegas after the Raiders selected Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and added veteran Kirk Cousins as an experienced option to either start early on or back up/mentor Mendoza. Entering the final year of his rookie contract, O'Connell faces an uphill battle for meaningful playing time within the organization. His clearest path to opportunities in 2026 may come via trade, though the 2023 fourth-round pick has yet to establish himself as an above-average backup at this stage of his career. Still, there may be untapped developmental upside if he lands in a more favorable situation
The Las Vegas Raiders are close to wrapping up OTAs before moving on to mandatory minicamp and then breaking for the summer ahead of training camp. So it’s still early in the process, but of course, the most popular player on the roster right now is the new quarterback and No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL draft, Fernando Mendoza . Even though we’re three months from the Raiders’ regular season starting, it’s natural to wonder how Mendoza has looked during OTAs. To help answer those questions, offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko spoke to local reporters recently on May 28 and shed some light on how the future of the franchise is coming along so far. One way Mendoza has impressed the coaching staff is through his mental approach, showing that he wants to have a full grasp of the playbook and know the ins and outs of every play in it. “Yeah, I think that’s something we ask from all quarterbacks is just to know the ‘whys’ behind every play,” Janocko replied when asked about the rookie’s mental approach. “Know the ‘what,’ know the ‘whys,’ and be ready to go above and beyond the X’s and O’s at times to make things right and to know where guys are at and where they’re supposed to be at, so that you can help guys. Knowing not [just] your job, but the other 10 jobs as well.” On a related note, the rookie’s work ethic has stood out to Janocko, while Kirk Cousins and Aidan O’Connell are proving to be great examples and resources. “I think he’s a guy that wants to come in and grind every day, work. All three of those guys come in every single day, and they want to work, they want to learn, they want to be the best in the world,” the coach explained. “He’s got two guys in the room with him that just set an unbelievable example with the way they work, the way they prepare, so he’s able to see that and grow within himself.” And the results have been showing up in practice. “If there’s something that he needs to improve on, he takes that step,” Janocko said. “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, then taking the individual drill into the team drill. As you see that apply, that’s where a quarterback grows.” While it wasn’t asked directly, the offensive coordinator did get hit with a version of the million-dollar question: “When is Mendoza going to be ready to start?” Of course, his answer was a lot of coach speak, but Janocko did touch on the type of culture the Raiders’ new coaching staff is trying to construct. “Yeah, I think for us, we’re trying to create an environment of competition,” he said, “trying to create an environment of growth for all three of those guys, [so that] no matter where you are in your career, that you feel like you come into that meeting room each and every single day, and you have a place to grow and learn and become a better player, a better competitor, a better teammate.”
Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick of this year’s draft, has been making a positive impression on his new offensive coordinator. While Klint Kubiak is set to call Las Vegas’ offensive plays, first-year OC Andrew Janocko will also be one of the architects of Mendoza’s development. Janocko said on Thursday that Mendoza’s approach to learning the pro game has been a positive for the club so far. “I think he’s a guy that wants to come in and grind every day, work ,” Janocko said in his press conference. “All three of those guys [Mendoza, Kirk Cousins, Aidan O’Connell] come in every single day and they want to work, they want to learn, they want to be the best in the world. He’s got two guys in the room with him that just set an unbelievable example with the way they work, the way they prepare. So he’s able to see that and grow within himself.” Though Mendoza will take over as Las Vegas’ QB1 sooner than later, right now the Raiders like that the young QB is interested in going beyond the surface level as he learns the offense. “I think that’s something we ask from all quarterbacks — is just to know the whys behind every play,” Janocko said. “Know the what, know the whys, and be ready to go above and beyond the Xs and Os at times to make things right. And to know where guys are at and where they’re supposed to be at, so that you can help guys, knowing not [just] your job, but the other 10 jobs as well.” To that end, Cousins and O’Connell have been a benefit to Mendoza. But the club also has players at different positions to help with that process. “[G]uys like [center] Tyler Linderbaum [can say] if a young quarterback’s cadence is just a little bit off, that’s great insight for him,” Janocko said. There’s a lot of time between now and Week 1, let alone the rest of the season. But Mendoza Mendoza appears to have brought plenty to the table since the Raiders made his selection official just over a month ago
Las Vegas Raiders’ part owner Tom Brady reportedly attended Thursday’s OTA session, as he occasionally does. He reportedly kept a close eye on the offense and the all-time greatest quarterback saw the Raiders’ quarterbacks put in good work in the practice. As expected, veteran Kirk Cousins remained the No. 1 quarterback this week. As was the case last week, Aidan O’Connell followed him then came Fernando Mendoza. Don’t worry, this is just a normal progression this time of year. It would be stunning if Mendoza entered the regular season behind O’Connell. According to reports, all three quarterbacks had their moments with big plays in the sessions. OTA practices are designed for the quarterbacks and receivers to be showcased, so this is no surprise. Still, the work had to please Brady and the Raiders’ coaching staff. In other notes from Raiders’ OTA session Thursday: Rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy reportedly wasn’t at Thursday’s session. he was present and doing some light work during the rookie minicamp and last week’s open OTA session. McCoy, a fourth-round pick is working through a serious knee issue. The Athletic reported both cornerback Taron Johnson and linebacker Nakobe Dean (both are new starters) were not attending the voluntary session as was the case last week. Johnson reportedly is staying away because he wants a contract adjustment. Dean reportedly has been out for family reasons. Backup tight end Ian Thomas reportedly wasn’t present, either, Thursday. Meanwhile, kicker Matt Gay , wide receiver Jalen Nailor and defensive tackle Benito Jones were all present Thursday after being absent during last week’s session that was open to media members. There was no change with the starting offensive line from last week. It was Kolton Miller (left tackle), Spencer Burford (left guard), Tyler Linderbaum (center), Jackson Powers-Johnson (right guard) and DJ Glaze (right tackle). There is expected to be training-camp competition everywhere but at left tackle and center with Caleb Rogers , Charles Grant and rookie Trey Zuhn also in the mix. Meanwhile, Zuhn was playing guard Thursday. He was at tackle last week. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak has said Zuhn will play all five positions on the offensive line
During Wednesday's OTA practice, Mendoza worked behind Kirk Cousins and Aidan O'Connell, and mostly with rookies during competitive periods of the session, per Sam Warren of The Athletic. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update
The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza to be their quarterback of the future. The No. 1 overall pick has been “as advertised” thus far, coach Klint Kubiak said Wednesday. "[He has] not disappointed,” Kubiak said, via Ryan McFadden of ESPN. “He’s working his tail off. It’s very important to him that he asks a lot of great questions when he gets on the field. He’s no B.S.; he’s all ball .” The Raiders are easing Mendoza into the offense, with Kirk Cousins taking first-team reps, followed by Aidan O’Connell and then Mendoza. Kubiak has repeatedly said he would prefer that a rookie quarterback not start Day 1, and the sportsbooks like Cousins to start Week 1. But the Raiders are giving Mendoza every chance to win the job. Mendoza is going the extra mile, putting in the work, asking questions and taking notes. “Anything that you put in front of him, he’s going to attack it,” Kubiak said. “Anything new, he spends extra time on. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next.”
The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza to be their quarterback of the future. The No. 1 overall pick has been "as advertised" thus far, coach Klint Kubiak said Wednesday. "[He has] not disappointed," Kubiak said, via Ryan McFadden of ESPN. "He's working his tail off. It's very important to him that he asks a lot of great questions when he gets on the field. He's no B.S.; he’s all ball ." The Raiders are easing Mendoza into the offense, with Kirk Cousins taking first-team reps, followed by Aidan O'Connell and then Mendoza. Kubiak has repeatedly said he would prefer that a rookie quarterback not start Day 1, and the sportsbooks like Cousins to start Week 1. But the Raiders are giving Mendoza every chance to win the job. Mendoza is going the extra mile, putting in the work, asking questions and taking notes. "Anything that you put in front of him, he's going to attack it," Kubiak said. "Anything new, he spends extra time on. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next."
Kirk Cousins is reportedly the first quarterback on the field during Las Vegas Raiders OTAs, ahead of Aidan O'Connell and rookie Fernando Mendoza. Head coach Klint Kubiak has not named a starter, but Cousins is expected to begin the season as the starter due to his experience and familiarity with Kubiak's offense
The Los Angeles Rams are favored to win Super Bowl LXI at +800, followed by the Seattle Seahawks at +950. The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills are at 10-1, while the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles are at 15-1. Teams with the longest odds include the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins at 250-1. The Seattle Seahawks defied historical odds by winning Super Bowl 60 with 60-1 preseason odds
Drops: Aidan O'Connell
Drops: Aidan O'Connell
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
