While Mendoza’s prestigious draft puts a lot of responsibility on his shoulders, Las Vegas has wisely built a roster that doesn’t need to rely on immediate rookies. Coach Klint Kubiak got his wish when the Las Vegas front office moved quickly to sign veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to provide the rookie coach with an experienced leader who can quietly guide the Raiders into a new season without immediately throwing Mendoza into the fire.
In theory, this should give Mendoza time to learn, grow and adjust to Kubiak’s offense as well as the responsibilities that come with being an NFL quarterback. Before long, though, he’ll take the field and be forced to adjust to the speed of the professional game, an environment that newcomers generally view as a hornet’s nest.
Brady found himself in a similar situation when he was called up to replace Drew Bledsoe in 2001. We all know how that ended, and as Brady explained, he only battled through the chaos by working tirelessly to become the best in every department.
The same must be expected of Mendoza. Fortunately, he has the greatest of all time in his corner.