The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick and signed Kirk Cousins in free agency. It was reported that the team also signed Jacob Clark and Sawyer Robertson in free agency.
However, it looks like one of those won’t actually be joining the team. The Raiders just announced their 17 undrafted free agent signings, but Robertson’s name was not among the signees.
Clark was signed, but it looks like Robertson hasn’t earned a contract yet. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post, the former Baylor quarterback is coming to rookie minicamp on a “tryout basis.”
That means he’s still going to have to show the Raiders more if he’s going to earn a roster spot. It’s interesting that Clark would get a contract, but not Robertson. Clark played at Missouri State, which is a much smaller school than Baylor.
Robertson has an NFL arm and some interesting traits, but his accuracy isn’t where it needs to be. At the end of the day, this is a competition for the No. 3 quarterback on the Raiders’ roster, so whether or not Robertson makes the team won’t impact this season. He’ll have a chance to show that he’s better than Clark, but he’s facing an uphill battle now.
Mendoza Talks Leadership Style
Mendoza is a rookie and might not play much this season, but he’s expected to be the leader of the Raiders for years to come. Mendoza has gone viral for his wholesome personality in the past, but he made it clear that he can be tougher when he needs to.
“Although I’ve come off as very humble, and pretty fuzzy and warm, at the end of my Indiana career, when you have that equity, you’re able to be like No. 4 [Brett Favre] and No. 12 [Aaron Rodgers]. If you ask my teammates … I wasn’t always a nice guy, I was an a-hole sometimes because I wanted everyone to do their one-eleventh, everyone to do their job, hold everyone to a high standard,” Mendoza told Raiders. com.
“However, coming into a new organization, starting from the bottom of the totem pole, I believe that leadership is earned, not given.”
Mendoza’s Dad Gives More Insight Into QB
Mendoza seems to be an open book. What you see is what you get. However, there could always be other things below the surface.
Not according to his father. Mendoza’s dad gave some more insight into the young quarterback’s personality.
“He’s always been someone to be open to new things,” Fernando Mendoza Sr., told Raiders.com. “Meeting new people, new situations, whether it’s a new school or a social environment, that’s kind of his demeanor. Kind of observant and pretty open to new experiences. That’s who he is.”
“He’s a pretty reserved guy at times, but he’ll wear his emotions on his sleeve,” he added. “I think you could see it come through afterwards, when he could let go and realized, ‘Hey, I’m going to be playing for the Raiders.’”
Mendoza has a lot of work to do, but things are looking bright for the quarterback and the Raiders.
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