The No. 1 overall pick silenced skeptics with a poised, touchdown-scoring performance, earning elite marks from analysts and intensifying the quarterback competition in Las Vegas this summer.
Everyone was waiting to see what Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza could do in his debut for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Well, the former Indiana Hoosiers star did not disappoint in the Raiders' preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.
Veteran Kirk Cousins started the game and threw a touchdown, but Mendoza saw a lot of snaps after that.
By the end of the game, Mendoza finished with a 10-of-16 clip for 97 yards with a touchdown.
Sure, the Raiders lost to the Cardinals, 27-14, but it is preseason, and that's all about new players getting acclimated and seeing what they can do in a real-game scenario.
After the first full slate of preseason games, Chad Reuter of NFL.com, a well-known draft analyst, gave Mendoza a B+ grade for his outing.
While Mendoza played well, Reuter also mentioned that he looked like a rookie at times.
"...The No. 1 overall pick looked like a rookie at times, launching a jump-pass out of bounds on his first throw. He failed to properly read a corner sitting in zone coverage, too, setting up RB Mike Washington Jr. to take a big hit after a catch. Also, Mendoza took a red-zone sack in the second quarter."
However, Reuter was impressed that Mendoza played calmly and looked like a starter in the NFL, which shouldn't come as a surprise given the way he played in college.
"The 22-year-old quarterback threw the ball like a future NFL starter when calmly operating, though, threading the needle over the middle for 19 yards and hitting a back-side route for 14 yards later on."
Mendoza's touchdown pass went to Jack Bech, but he made another throw that showcased his ability to squeeze the ball into tight spaces.
When the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins, it turned out that the plan was to use Cousins as the starting QB until Mendoza is fully ready to take control.
However, after just one preseason game, Mendoza looked very comfortable, which could make it more difficult for new head coach Klint Kubiak.
The Raiders also took part in joint practices with the Houston Texans ahead of the second preseason game on Thursday in Houston, and it turns out that Mendoza has been performing well and making adjustments during those sessions.
It will be interesting to see how Kubiak splits the time between the signal-callers in the second preseason game, but so far, the reviews on Mendoza are positive, which is promising for somebody who was the first overall pick.
