Las Vegas Raiders fans can’t help but admire seeing what they believe will be the future at quarterback with Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza has added a National Championship to his already stacked résumé, which features a perfect 16-0 season, Heisman Trophy, All-American, and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.
It’s not certain that the Raiders will draft the Indiana star quarterback, but his answer after winning the National Championship certainly sounds like something a quarterback from Las Vegas would say.
Fernando Mendoza Sends A Strong “Vegas-Like” Response After Winning National Title
As a Raider fan, you can’t help but admire this type of “Vegas-like” response from Mendoza:
“I would say, we’ve gotten to this point, and there’s no other way we could do it. There’s no other way. When it’s 4th down and four…4th and five, we’re gonna lay it all on the line. No matter what, because we’ve gotten to this point by betting on ourselves. So the ultimate gamble, we’re gonna double down and make sure we hit the jackpot.”
Betting…gamble…jackpot. Sure sounds like something a Raiders quarterback would say.
Mendoza gave it his all when it mattered the most during the National Championship with an insane touchdown run on 4th and five to put the Hoosiers up 24-14 in the fourth quarter, and his message on that clutch play should have Raiders fans hyped.
“I had to go airborne. I’d die for my team. Whatever they need me to do. They need me to take shots in the front or the back, whatever it is, I’m gonna die for my team out there aand I know they’re going to do the same for me. That’s what makes us so close. That’s what makes the national championship so special.”
And Raiders Digital Reporter Levi Edwards added, “Fernando Mendoza dove from 3 yards out over a heap of defenders on 4th down for that touchdown. He know damn well who in the building watching him tonight.”
It wasn’t a perfect game by any means by Mendoza, but the Raiders’ organization has to like what they see from him.
Preparing For Mendoza
The easy part for the Raiders is deciding to draft Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. The hard part is building around him.
He won’t survive under the same offensive line that Geno Smith had to play under center for. It’s time for the Raiders to invest in the offensive line so they can make Mendoza’s transition to the NFL as smooth as possible.
With $82.4 million in projected cap space, according to Over the Cap, the Raiders should be prepared to spend a huge chunk on the offensive line.
Some of the top free agent offensive linemen include the following:
- Tyler Linderbaum, Center
- Jammaree Salyer, Guard
- Rasheed Walker, Tackle
- Ethan Pocic, Center
- Wyatt Teller, Guard
- Isaac Seumalo, Guard
Along with free agency, the Raiders must look for O-line options in the draft, or else the transition from college to the NFL could be a bumpy one for Mendoza.
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