Yahoo Sports NFL on Fernando Mendoza
From the article
They drafted Fernando Mendoza first overall, hoping the magic he displayed in leading Indiana to a miraculous national championship rubs off on a franchise that doesn't know what it's like to win anymore... And while signing Kirk Cousins to start and let Mendoza learn isn't conventional in this era, there's at least some logic behind it.
STACKED’s take
Mendoza drafted 1st overall; Kirk Cousins bridge starter; slow-cook development approach
Drafted first overall by the Raiders, Mendoza will begin his NFL career as a backup to Kirk Cousins, who signed a one-year, $20 million deal to serve as the Week 1 starter and mentor. The Raiders are taking an old-school approach to slow-cook Mendoza's development rather than starting him immediately, despite the precedent set by recent top QB prospects like Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, Trevor Lawrence, and Caleb Williams who started right away or very shortly into their rookie years. Cousins has publicly committed to the mentorship role, saying "Tremendous player, tremendous person, looking forward to working together" and "I think we'll be a great support system to one another. Hopefully I can kind of help lead the way and kind of introduce him to the NFL." Mendoza's timetable to start will be a recurring story until it happens.
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