There has been a great deal of focus about the development of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza and how his success or failure will ultimately decide the fate of the Las Vegas Raiders over the next few years.
That is with good reason.
NFL teams can’t miss on first-round quarterbacks, especially those drafted No. 1 overall. A whiff on such a selection could set an organization back five years.
This is an organization that needs to be heavily invested in his progress and making sure he is at his best for 2027, 2028 and beyond when the Raiders are actually ready to compete with Mendoza under center.
But he’s not alone.
Because while the Raiders should put a great deal of focus on making sure Mendoza improves over the course of his rookie season, there are plenty of other areas of the roster that should currently be working with at least one eye to the future.
Mendoza can’t be successful on his own. This is an organization that has committed to getting younger and growing its corps together to all be ready at the same time.
The secondary is a prime example.
General manager John Spytek invested heavily in the group knowing it needed drastic improvement.
Two rookie corners and two rookie safeties are expected to see significant action this season in addition to second-year pro Darien Porter being a strong candidate to start at one of the outside cornerback positions.
There is a realistic chance all that investment will pay off and give the Raiders one of the better secondaries in the league over the next few years, but these players must be developed the right way just like Mendoza even though there will be far less fanfare.
It’s imperative.
Defensive coordinator Rob Leonard likes what he has seen so far from the youngsters.
“They’ve grown a lot,” he said, adding the next step is to not allow themselves to get too high or too low over the course of a game or season. “Like when (the opponent) completes a pass, it can’t be the end of the world. Let’s not make it stack two plays in a row of that. And they’ve had a lot of production, but it’s the consistency.”
Leonard believes they are going to make plays. He has expressed little doubt they are going to be good.
It would be a welcome change for a Raiders organization that has given up far too many passing plays down the field over the years.
If he’s right, this could be a solid foundation for years to come. A strong defensive backfield to go along with a young crop of playmakers on the offensive side is a great start for an organization with a clear plan to compete for the long haul.
It won’t just be a physical thing, though.
A big part of what those young players will need to start to show this year is an ability to lead and communicate.
“When adversity strikes, who’s going to step up to respond,” Leonard said. “I tell them, ‘I can’t help you.’ Who’s going to rally the troops? They get two first downs in a row, and we’ve got to get a stop and get off the field.”
On the positive side, the Raiders did a good job of bringing in very high-character players in the defensive backfield.
Treydan Stukes. Dalton Johnson. Hezekiah Masses. Jermod McCoy. All talented players who are good guys. Stukes and Johnson are natural leaders.
There is no guarantee it’s going to work out with this group. But there is a good chance. And it will be something fans will want to pay attention to this season.
Their development on what is likely to be a noncompetitive team won’t attract nearly as much attention as that of the quarterback, but it is vital the Raiders build the entire roster around Mendoza and this group is one that has a chance to be great.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
