Why Klint Kubiak and Fernando Mendoza are Ideal Pairing to Save the Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders' new head coach-quarterback tandem isn't official yet, though it seems as though they're set to pair Klint Kubiak with Fernando Mendoza to usher in a new Silver and Black era.

Back in November, we talked about the possibility of the Raiders hiring Kubiak, the hottest young offensive coordinator in this cycle, and drafting Mendoza, who just led Indiana through an undefeated championship season, as two of six moves to right the franchise. 

Barring unforeseen circumstances, you can check off those two boxes.

Quarterback Geno Smith is coming off a turnover-ridden season, and Las Vegas fired head coach Pete Carroll, who has an affinity for him. Though Smith is under contract for two more years, the Raiders' brass wanted a close-up look at Mendoza in the College Football Playoff Championship Game for a reason.

With Raiders owner Mark Davis, minority owner Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek in attendance, Mendoza put on a show, literally sacrificing his body on a game-changing touchdown run.

Assuming Kubiak and Mendoza are on the way, the Raiders can finally close the gap to their AFC West rivals and build a foundation that transforms the team from a laughingstock into a playoff contender. 

Klint Kubiak's History with Pro Bowl QBs Is a Good Sign for Fernando Mendoza

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Kubiak is arguably the top offensive-minded play-caller in this hiring cycle, and it goes beyond his work with the Seattle Seahawks' third-ranked scoring offense this season.

In 2021, Kubiak was the Minnesota Vikings' offensive coordinator. On his watch, Kirk Cousins performed at a legitimate Pro Bowl level, throwing for 4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions with a 66.3 percent completion rate.

This year, Sam Darnold proved that he's more than a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback. In Kubiak's system, he led his team to the Super Bowl as the NFC's No. 1 seed. 

The Raiders' soon-to-be lead skipper has a proven track record of high-end quarterback play in his offenses, which is something Mendoza should be excited about if he believes Las Vegas will take him with the No. 1 overall pick.

Mendoza has functional mobility. We saw that in the national championship game against Miami, though he wins from the pocket, much like Cousins, a pure pocket-passer, and Darnold, a pass-first quarterback.

With all signs pointing toward Mendoza as the top pick in April's draft, the Raiders needed to hire the head coach who would get the most out of him from Year 1, and Kubiak is the right guy for the assignment.

Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer Could Reach Full Potential as a Tight-End Duo

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Beyond the quarterback position, you can see Kubiak emphasizes tight end production in the passing game. In all three of his seasons as an offensive coordinator, he's had a tight end record at least 50 catches and eclipse 500 receiving yards.

In Kubiak's system, Tyler Conklin, Juwan Johnson and AJ Barner matched or surpassed those receiving numbers. From a talent perspective, none of them compares to All-Pro Brock Bowers.

Kubiak turned those underheralded playmakers into consistent contributors. While in New Orleans, he had Johnson and fellow tight end Foster Moreau as two of his top pass-catchers. They recorded 82 receptions for 961 yards and eight touchdowns combined, and did it with then-rookie Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener making seven combined starts in place of an injured Derek Carr.

So, Bowers should be able to feast in the new offense. A second-round pick from the 2023 draft, Michael Mayer is headed into a contract year and could have his most productive campaign in a system that accentuates the tight end's pass-catching abilities.

Prioritizing the Run for Ashton Jeanty's Potential Year 2 Emergence

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Kubiak has been an assistant under his dad, Gary, who's retired, and Kyle Shanahan, and their styles likely influenced his play-calling tendencies. He's more than a potential quarterback whisperer and pass-catching tight end mastermind.

As offensive coordinator at every career stop, the 38-year-old has featured his lead running back in a three-down role. Under his tutelage, Dalvin Cook performed at a Pro Bowl level, racking up 1,383 scrimmage yards; Alvin Kamara finished with 1,493 scrimmage yards and Kenneth Walker III has eclipsed 110 scrimmage yards in four of his last five outings.

Though Ashton Jeanty accumulated 1,321 yards and 10 touchdowns from scrimmage this season, he went through his rookie campaign with an inconsistent workload while averaging just 3.7 yards per carry behind a subpar offensive line.

Expect Kubiak to address the Raiders' offensive unit in the trenches, particularly the guard spots, as Dylan Parham and Jordan Meredith prepare for free agency. Perhaps the Raiders' new head coach moves Jackson Powers-Johnson back to his natural position at center. If so, Las Vegas could invest heavily in a veteran guard. 

Painting a Brighter Future Picture for Maxx Crosby

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Kubiak's arrival could also affect the defense, specifically Maxx Crosby, who vehemently disagreed with the team's decision to shut him down for the final two games of the 2025 season.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, league sources believe the Raiders would be open to trading Crosby amid a "strained" relationship.

If the Raiders don't believe Crosby's career timeline matches their rebuild, this may be the last chance for them to get a first-round pick for him. Entering his age-29 season, he's undergone several surgeries in recent years, though the five-time Pro Bowler is still one of the league's premier pass-rushers. 

Crosby has played for four different full-time head coaches. He may not want to go through an extensive rebuild under a fifth one.

However, if a Kubiak-Mendoza pairing is a home-run hit this offseason, they can expedite the rebuilding process, giving Crosby and the Raiders hope for a quicker turnaround. 

On his podcast, The Rush With Maxx Crosby, the Raiders star praised Mendoza.

As Patrick Graham leaves for the same position under new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, we'll see what Crosby thinks of the Raiders' new defensive coordinator. 

Kubiak could bring Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde or another assistant on Seattle's defensive staff with him to Las Vegas, and why not? The Seahawks gave up the fewest points this season.

With growing optimism for the Raiders' future, Crosby may be willing to remain in Las Vegas as a locker room leader who welcomes Kubiak and Mendoza for another Silver and Black reset, one that actually bears positive short-term results.