Fernando Mendoza hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass for the Las Vegas Raiders, but his first major NFL debate is already here and it has nothing to do with arm strength, footwork or whether he can beat out Kirk Cousins.
Instead, it centers on a question every modern franchise quarterback eventually faces which is how much of the spotlight should he accept before proving anything on Sundays?
Fernando Mendoza gets a very special gift that reminds him of his Cuban roots
Mendoza, the No.1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is reportedly turning down endorsement opportunities so he can concentrate on his rookie season.
The decision has split opinion, especially because Las Vegas is the kind of market where a young star quarterback could quickly become a major commercial figure.
On Fox Sports Radio’s Covino & Rich, Steve Covino said he understood the thinking.
“I kind of respect it a little bit because it shows his commitment to football and to the Raiders,” Covino said. “It shows his commitment to taking it all in and learning and making the most of his rookie season.”
The show’s social media account summed up the debate with a sharper line: “A No.1 draft pick walking away from millions to focus on football is either elite discipline or the dumbest flex in the NFL.”
Covino believes Mendoza is betting on himself. If he becomes the player the Raiders drafted him to be, the money will still be there.
“They’re always going to be there. At least that’s how he feels,” Covino said. “He’s confident in the fact that he’s not going anywhere soon. I like his future.”
Why the money question won’t go away
Rich Davis took the other side. His concern wasn’t about Mendoza’s work ethic. It was about the assumption that endorsement opportunities can simply wait.
“Some of these deals, I’m not saying he’s going to get some LeBron, Steph Curry, Shohei deal where you’re making $30 to $100 million dollars a year, but regional stars and big stars can make anywhere from $500,000 to $5 million dollars for a simple local or regional ad campaign,” Davis said.
Davis also pointed to Rob Gronkowski, whose financial discipline famously allowed him to live on endorsement income while saving his NFL salary.
“Gronk lived off endorsements and invested and banked every dollar he made in the NFL,” Davis said. Then came the bluntest line of the segment.
“He’s passing on a** and endorsements,” Davis joked. “Like those are two of my favorite things.” Covino’s response was brief: “That’s a testament to his commitment.”
Raiders not rushing the process
Mendoza’s decision makes more sense when placed beside his actual workload. He is learning Klint Kubiak’s offense, a system that requires far more under-center work than he handled in college.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Mendoza is essentially learning new mechanics from the ground up.
“Klint Kubiak’s offense is gonna (sic) be a lot of under center work, and so, as one team source told me, ‘It’s like learning dance steps,’” Fowler said.
Mendoza has acknowledged the adjustment, but sounded encouraged after mandatory minicamp.
“I feel like I’ve been growing every day from the first day of OTAs to today in minicamp,” Mendoza said. “I feel like I’m leaps and bounds ahead of where I was.”
The Raiders can afford patience with Cousins in place. Mendoza seems to be choosing the same path commercially.
If he hits, the endorsements will come. If he doesn’t, Davis’ warning may become the quote everyone remembers.
