{"id":846265,"date":"2026-04-01T03:41:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T03:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/846265\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T03:41:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T03:41:16","slug":"top-nfl-draft-pick-could-initially-sit-behind-veteran-qb-raiders-coach-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/846265\/","title":{"rendered":"Top NFL Draft pick could initially sit behind veteran QB, Raiders coach says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Las Vegas may be Fernando Mendoza\u2019s first NFL<\/a> stop. But if he joins the Raiders as a rookie, his jersey may stay clean early if coach Klint Kubiak has his way.<\/p>\n

Mendoza led Indiana to its first College Football Playoff national title<\/a> in January and is widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick in April\u2019s NFL Draft, a selection held by the Raiders.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Klint Kubiak was named the Raiders head coach in February, shortly after helping to lead the Seattle Seahawks to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title as offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n

Kubiak believes rookie quarterbacks benefit from learning from an experienced player before seeing game action.<\/p>\n

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\"Klint <\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak speaks at an introductory news conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center on Feb. 10, 2026, in Henderson, Nev.\u00a0 (Kirby Lee\/Imagn Images)<\/p>\n

“Ideally, you don’t want him to start from Day 1,” Kubiak told reporters Tuesday. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day 1, and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”<\/p>\n

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Aidan O’Connell is the only other quarterback on the Raiders’s roster after the team traded Geno Smith<\/a> and Kenny Pickett signed with the Panthers. Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson are among the veterans who remain unsigned.<\/p>\n

The Raiders\u2019<\/a> playoff win drought dates to the 2002 season, when the franchise won the AFC championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kubiak pointed to Fernando Mendoza\u2019s track record when asked about the quarterback.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“He’s a national champion. He’s a winner,” Kubiak said of Mendoza. “He’s quick. He’s intelligent.”<\/p>\n

\"Fernando <\/p>\n

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo\/Rebecca Blackwell)<\/p>\n

On defense, the Raiders still have five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby<\/a> after his trade to Baltimore was voided because he failed a physical.<\/p>\n

\"Klint <\/p>\n

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak speaks to the media ahead of the Super Bowl at the San Jose Convention Center Feb. 5, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (Eakin Howard\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

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Kubiak said he smiled when general manager John Spytek gave him the news about the nixed deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We got Maxx back. Are you kidding me? That’s great. Our team just got better,” Kubiak said.<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n