In the current evolution story of the Las Vegas Raiders, their silver and black DNA is being recoded long before the Commissioner takes the stage in April. The latest case comes after an elite, calculated infrastructure being built around Indiana quarterbackFernando Mendoza to ensure he hits the ground running as the franchise’s new North Star.
According to NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, the Raiders are not just leaning toward Mendoza, they are effectively treating him like their starter. In a revelatory segment on The Pat McAfee Show this week, Jeremiah signaled that the transition is moving at “full-speed ahead,” orchestrated by a circle of football royalty tied directly to Tom Brady.
A masterclass tought in the shadows
The most fascinating wrinkle in Mendoza’s preparation is the man leading the charge: Brian Griese. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach recently stepped down from his post, but he has not stepped away from the lab.
He is not the typical coach, he is a former teammate of Brady, and by placing Mendoza under Griese’s tutelage, the Raiders are bridging the gap between collegiate potential and professional reality.
Jeremiah notes that this goes well beyond of being a simple clinic on footwork or throwing mechanics. Instead, they are deep in the trenches of installing the Raiders’ offensive playbook.
This move carries a heavy weight of lineage. Griese’s expertise is steeped in the Kubiak coaching tree, having played under Gary Kubiak and coached alongside Klint Kubiak. This suggests the Raiders are looking to mold Mendoza into a cerebral, disciplined distributor, mirroring the efficiency that defined both Griese and Brady’s careers.
For Raiders fans, this represents a shift in philosophy. Instead of the patience approach of previous regimes, the Brady-influenced front office is taking a proactive approach to player development; one that gives a young athlete the keys to the kingdom while providing the best possible maps to navigate it.
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