Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is preparing for Thursday's preseason game against the Houston Texans at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. His approach to the game has been shaped by a studious method honed since his teenage years.
At Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, Mendoza would skip lunch with classmates to review practice plans in coach Dave Dunn's office, notebook and pen in hand. This routine continued throughout his high school career. During offseasons, Mendoza analyzed defensive schemes and proposed ideas for the Explorers' game plan. Dunn said it was rare to find a 15-year-old "wired that way."
That dedication propelled Mendoza from a three-star recruit to a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion at Indiana in 2025. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak has set a clear standard: "At quarterback, the expectation is to be the most prepared guy in the building." Among young quarterbacks Kubiak has coached, Mendoza "has the upper hand on them in that area."
Dunn, who has coached at Christopher Columbus since 2019, noted that Mendoza "doesn't like to leave any stone unturned." His extensive preparation meant "nothing rarely caught the South Florida native off guard."
In a regional final game, Mendoza scrambled for a touchdown on the first drive after no receivers opened. He returned to the sideline and broke down the play step-by-step for Dunn: "I knew I had to move to my left. I had the X receiver as a possibility. Saw that he wasn't going to get open and my only option was to scramble."
Before the April draft, Mendoza was already preparing for Kubiak's offense. He spent Sundays watching NFL film breakdowns of how Kubiak used the Seattle Seahawks' scheme. He continues using a notebook as a Raider.
Mendoza is not expected to start Week 1, marking the first season since 2022 without a rookie quarterback starting for Las Vegas. The Raiders have no commitment to their current quarterback beyond this year. His preseason performance will help determine the timeline for his development.
