HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders believe Fernando Mendoza has grown a lot since joining the team this spring. The No. 1 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft knows there’s still plenty of room to grow.

“I still have a long way to go,” Mendoza said Thursday. “I feel more comfortable, but I’m nowhere near where I need to be.”

The quarterback’s increased comfort level was visible during the opening days of training camp. He’s taken more control of the offense, looked more fluid in his footwork and appeared to be getting through his reads easier than in offseason practices. That was confirmed by offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, who said Mendoza has grown the most in his “command of the offense” since arriving in Las Vegas.

Mendoza’s development has led to increased opportunities. After working mostly with the third string during OTAs, the coaching staff has elevated Mendoza to Kirk Cousins’ backup, ahead of Aidan O’Connell. Cousins and Mendoza took the majority of competitive reps during the team’s first two training-camp practices.

Mendoza wasn’t tasked with much in the team’s first session, but the Raiders opened things up for him on Day 2. He showed off his arm talent and precision on a trio of passes. He connected with receiver Deven Thompkins on a crossing route for a big gain, found receiver Phillip Dorsett on the run and hit receiver Brandon Johnson on time on a well-covered out route.

Plays of the sort are what made Mendoza a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion and the player the Raiders are entrusting to be the future. But he’s in no rush to claim that role. Head coach Klint Kubiak named Cousins the starter for training camp, and the team’s preference to start a veteran in Week 1 means Mendoza will likely begin his career on the bench. On Thursday, he said he’s content with that prospect.

“I’m taking a following role right now,” Mendoza said. “I’m just trying to do my part and focus on the next rep and do everything I possibly can to prepare myself to be the best asset I can for my team. Whatever decision is made at the end, that’s fantastic, I’m all for it. I just want the team to win, so that’s where I’m at.”

Mendoza’s acceptance of his status has plenty to do with his desire to learn more and gain experience. He said his work with the Raiders staff has shown him the levels of difference between his elite collegiate play and the quarterback he wants to become as a pro.

“Especially in OTAs, there were maybe one or two reps that I thought, ‘Hey, this is a really, really good rep.’ Then we get in the film room — and maybe it might’ve slipped past in college — but we get into the film and you get torn apart because of a small detail,” Mendoza said. “You end up realizing when you watch a game film and you talk to the veterans that, ‘Hey, in the game the margins are even smaller, and in reality when you thought that was a great ball (but) it’s really a 50-50 ball because you didn’t throw in the correct timing.’”

Mendoza said taking those early, sometimes harsh lessons and learning from them was a focus of the offseason. The 22-year-old definitely enjoyed the time off, attending award ceremonies, going to World Cup games and even taking a cruise to Alaska with his family. But before breaking for the summer, he sat down with quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan and went through every play of OTAs in fine detail, giving him resources to improve during the break.

“Through that, I was able to see some common themes and common mishaps I would have on certain concepts,” Mendoza said. “I was able to reflect on them throughout the summer and walk through them and then now when I’m here in training camp, when I feel those urges come up, I’m able to kill them and make the right play.”

Experiencing his own mistakes allows Mendoza to grow the most, as he said it creates “positive stress” that makes new “neurological pathways” form. The more connections created, the more Mendoza feels at ease on the field and able to focus on reading defenses.

But what he can’t learn from observing himself he takes from Cousins and his coaches. He said he made mistakes on Thursday that he called on Cousins and the other quarterbacks to diagnose in real time. Such is the mentality of the Raiders signal-callers — they compete “with” each other, not “against” each other.

“By being able to ask those veteran leaders in the room (for advice), I think it’s a beautiful thing that we’re all pushing each other’s standard up.”

Picking the brain of Cousins, whose knowledge of Kubiak’s system prompted the Raiders to sign him in free agency, has given Mendoza insight into how far away he is in his development. While more comfortable, he said he still needs to learn more of the playbook and get better at setting protections, which he’s leaning on the veteran to help with. Seeing Cousins’ mastery of both is why he accepts his following role.

Bowers, Crosby in good shape

The Raiders’ best players on offense and defense showed up on Thursday.

Edge Maxx Crosby and tight end Brock Bowers made their presence felt during competitive drills during the second practice. Both had their 2025 seasons cut short by injury, but each have appeared healthy and explosive to begin training camp.

One play from a team period highlighted that. As Cousins dropped back on a play-action fake, Crosby burst through the right side of the protection and met the quarterback at his landmark. While likely a sack, Cousins got the ball out toward Bowers as he streaked across the field. The tight end extended near the sideline to haul in the ball, keeping his feet in bounds.

Bowers made a few more catches in the practice from several different alignments, while Crosby was a disruptor against the run and pass throughout the morning and made sure to let the opposing offense know about it. While Bowers’ knee wasn’t much of a worry entering camp, Crosby’s failed trade to the Ravens heightened concerns around his health. But no hindrances are discernible for either thus far.

Rotations at receiver, corner

While the hierarchy of the quarterback competition has been more rigid, battles at other positions have been anything but. The Raiders have played several different players with the first team at wide receiver and cornerback so far, and look like they will continue to do so through at least the start of camp.

Darien Porter and rookie Hezekiah Masses split opportunities at CB2 alongside Eric Stokes on Thursday. If his health persists, fellow rookie Jermod McCoy could join them, as he’s looked capable in his limited opportunities with the second and third units. Masses earning early chances as a fifth-round pick is somewhat of a surprise, but he’s impressed defensive coordinator Rob Leonard so far.

“It truly is competitive from the ones, the twos, the threes. We’re really trying to make it a fair competition, but he’s controlling everything he can,” Leonard said. “He has that good balance right now with being humble as a rookie, but being confident enough and what we’re asking him to do: go out and execute. He’s not scared to make a play, and he’s been doing a good job.”

The rotation of corners has also been tasked with covering myriad receivers. Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, Dont’e Thornton Jr. and sixth-round rookie Malik Benson all got first-team reps on Thursday. Tucker and Nailor appear to be the preferred starting options, and both connected with Cousins for nice completions in the session. Second-years Bech and Thornton look to be just behind them on the depth chart.

“I think there’s a lot of guys that are vying for spots to help us compete, help us win, and I’m excited to watch that competition unfold,” Janocko said. “Those guys come each day, they’re very intentional with what they do, very deliberate.”