What Fernando Mendoza Showed Us in His Raiders Debut

Sign up for PrizePicks with code HMA and get $150 in lineups if your first $5 lineup wins!https://link.prizepicks.com/LME0/SILVER Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut Thursday night as the Las Vegas Raiders opened the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals, and we finally got an extended look at the No. 1 overall pick in live game action.Former Raiders wide receiver Ryan Hoag joins Jesse Merrick to break down what Mendoza showed in his first professional game, from his adjustment to NFL speed and handling pressure to some of the throws that flashed exactly why Las Vegas made him the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.We also break down Kirk Cousins and the Raiders' starting offense, including an efficient opening drive that featured plenty of motion and multiple personnel groupings. Plus, what did the first-team defense show, and which players helped — or hurt — themselves in the first preseason game?On this episode:Fernando Mendoza's first extended NFL actionWhat Mendoza did well — and where he still needs to improveKirk Cousins and the starting offenseJack Bech making the most of his opportunitiesMike Washington Jr.'s explosive nightThe Raiders' cornerback competitionDarien Porter and Jermod McCoy's performancesGreedy Vance emerging in the secondaryConcerns about the Raiders' defensive line and pass rushKeyron Crawford, Cian Slone and other young defendersOur biggest takeaways from Raiders vs. CardinalsQUESTION OF THE DAY: What was YOUR biggest takeaway from Fernando Mendoza's debut? Let us know in the comments.📬 Subscribe to the FREE Silver & Black Sports Network Raiders Newsletter at SilverAndBlackSportsNetwork.com.Silver & Black Sports Network FREE Raiders Newsletterhttps://SilverAndBlackSportsNetwork.comFollow SBSN:X: / jessesbsn Instagram: / silverandblacksportsnetwork TikTok: / silverandblacksportsnet Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...#Raiders #RaiderNation #FernandoMendoza #LasVegasRaiders #NFL

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