Fernando Mendoza Reportedly Learning Raiders' Offense Amid 2026 NFL Draft Rumors

Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza appears all but certain to go first overall in the NFL draft to the Las Vegas Raiders.

In the meantime, Mendoza is reportedly learning the Raider offense with Brian Griese, a former NFL quarterback who was recently the San Francisco 49ers' QB coach from 2022-2024.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network reported that news Friday during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (h/t Matt Holder of SB Nation).

"Fernando Mendoza is working with Brian Griese right now, and it's not so much that they're working on footwork," Jeremiah said, via Matt Holder of SB Nation. "They're installing the Raiders' offense. He's full speed ahead. This is the same thing that happened with [Joe] Burrow, where you can use this time to really try and learn the core verbiage and concepts along with an offense."

Griese and new Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak worked together on the 49ers' staff in 2023, when Kubiak was the team's passing game coordinator and helped lead San Francisco to an NFC title.

The Raiders traded their 2025 starting quarterback, Geno Smith, to the New York Jets earlier this offseason. The only quarterback on the roster right now is Aidan O'Connell after Kenny Pickett left in free agency to be the Carolina Panthers' backup on a one-year deal.

So the door is wide open for the Raiders to get another QB, and that should be Mendoza as the Silver and Black start a new era under Kubiak. Mendoza was exceptional last year en route to a Heisman Trophy, a 16-0 record and a national championship. He's the clear choice at No. 1 and should very well be the team's Week 1 starter as well.

It's no surprise he's reportedly trying to get a headstart on the prep as the Raiders look to move past a rough 7-27 stretch over the past two seasons.