Curt Cignetti: Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Success May Be Out of His Hands
Expectations are sky-high for Fernando Mendoza after the Las Vegas Raiders selected the former Indiana quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Curt Cignetti, who coached Mendoza during his remarkable collegiate ascent, cautions that evaluating the rookie solely on his individual performances overlooks how dependent any quarterback is on the supporting cast around him.
Cignetti Praises Mendoza’s Tools and Mentality
Speaking to NFL on ESPN, Cignetti emphasized Mendoza’s physical and mental readiness for the professional level.
“Well, I think he’s got the tools, and mentally, he’s extremely smart, dedicated, committed, does everything he can to be the best he can be, a great teammate, and a great leader,”
“He’s a great competitor on the field. He’s got a quick arm; he’s got good arm strength, and he’s got good mobility. So, he’s got a body of work out there, and he’s going to be a really good pro.”
Cignetti Highlights What Mendoza Needs from Raiders
The bigger uncertainty for Cignetti isn’t whether Mendoza possesses NFL-caliber talent, but whether Las Vegas can create the conditions necessary for him to showcase it immediately.
“People ask me, ‘How do you think he’s going to do this year?’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know a whole lot about the Raiders, to be honest with you,’”
“You know, you’ve got to have protection. You’ve got to have guys that can separate. You’ve got to have a run game. You’ve got to be able to play defense and special teams. It all goes hand in hand.”
That supporting cast could become particularly important following an uneven start to Mendoza’s pro career.
Preseason Struggles Raise Questions
Across his first two preseason appearances, Mendoza completed 18 of 31 passes while taking two sacks and throwing one interception. His numbers when pressured have attracted particular scrutiny, with the rookie ranking near the bottom of preseason quarterbacks in both EPA per attempt and completion percentage under pressure.
It marks a significant departure from the environment Mendoza enjoyed at Indiana, where strong protection, dependable offensive weapons, and an effective defense helped him flourish on his way to becoming college football’s standout player. Consequently, his early fortunes in Las Vegas could depend heavily on whether the Raiders can keep him protected and provide enough offensive support.
Cignetti, though, remains convinced that even if success doesn’t arrive immediately, his former quarterback will eventually establish himself.
“But he’s going to be a good pro if not this year, sometime soon,”
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