Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza Gets Sobering Reality Check From Former Top Pick

Detailed summary

Former No. 1 pick Alex Smith expressed concerns about what rookie Fernando Mendoza will face in his first start for the Raiders.

After the Las Vegas Raiders traded starting quarterback Kirk Cousins last week, No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is set to make his first NFL regular-season start against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

ESPN analyst Alex Smith was once in Mendoza's shoes, as the San Francisco 49ers selected him first overall in 2005. Based on his take during "NFL Sunday Countdown," he doesn't envy the Raiders rookie one bit.

"I'll tell you what, I'm so glad I'm not in his shoes right now. Right? 'Hey, our No. 1 pick that we want to get off to a good start so badly- guess what, you're gonna play the best defense in the NFL in the Super Bowl, champ Seattle Seahawks,'" Smith said calling it "a monster" for Mendoza.

"It is so fast, you're trying to digest all your volume on offense. Everything that this No. 1 defense is gonna throw at you, and you just can't- you can't prepare yourself for what it's actually gonna look like," he said.

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Smith suggested that a silver lining for Mendoza is that his first career start might be the toughest challenge he faces in his rookie season.

The Seahawks are allowing opponents just 244.2 yards of offense, ranking first in the NFL. They also lead the league in pass defense, allowing opponents just 155.1 passing yards per game, setting up a potentially harsh welcome for the NFL rookie.

"It's gonna be suffocating ... They're on top of you, it is so fast, and again, I want to see a young kid be able to stand in there, can he operate the offense on third down and in the red zone, and in key moments, he's gonna have to try to make some throws with this pass rush bearing down on him," Smith said of the rookie.

Smith also questioned whether Mendoza would be able to remain focused on throws downfield against a team like the Seahawks. Adding to those concerns, quarterbacks making their first career start against head coach Mike Macdonald's teams have gone 0-4.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Newsweek. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.