The NFL preseason is officially in the books, and Week 1 is just around the corner, but the biggest rookie story has to be No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. The dude’s already playing catch-up, with the Raiders officially naming Kirk Cousins as their starting QB. For a guy taken first overall, that’s not the red-carpet welcome you expect, especially after his C+ preseason grade.
Mendoza’s Rough Ride and What It Means for Vegas
Mendoza put in 85 snaps, and honestly, you could see why he’s riding the pine to start. TruMedia data showed he was pressured on a whopping 19 of his 51 preseason dropbacks. When that pressure gets in his face, his eyes just drop straight to his feet. Any chance of a late down completion? Gone. It’s understandable, though. He only took 2.2% of his snaps under center in college. Fast forward to preseason with the Raiders, and suddenly he’s under center for 56.5% of his plays. That’s a huge jump! You gotta believe the footwork, the timing on those throws, and the overall muscle memory will click eventually. When he *was* clean, Mendoza flashed that arm, making some tight-window throws that inspired confidence. The chatter about him “fall[ing] behind as Rams strengthen Super Bowl candidacy” really highlights the perception of his slow start. Sticking with Cousins for Week 1? Totally the right move for the Raiders right now, but for Mendoza, it’s a big, fat reality check.
Love’s Electric Hurdle and Bailey’s Disruptive Edge
Some of these top picks straight up balled out. Take No. 3 pick Jeremiyah Love, the running back, who snagged an A- grade on only 23 snaps. His run game? It’s pure poetry, man. The way he presses blockers before cutting, his jab step on routes to get leverage, never tipping his intentions with his eyes , it’s next-level stuff. And that insane hurdle against the Raiders? Highlight-reel material! Arizona was hitting the “Love button” on offense against Vegas, which, bummer, led to a little ankle tweak. Huge sigh of relief for Cardinals fans: crisis averted, and he’s expected to be ready for Week 1. That’s massive!
No. 2 overall David Bailey, the edge rusher, bagged a B+ grade from just 20 snaps. This Texas Tech product, via Stanford, is relentless. He holds his ground in the run game and fights like crazy to shed blocks as a pass rusher. He consistently generated pressure on stunts and showed off that combo of speed and flexibility to win on the high side. Opponents even threw double teams his way, a giant sign of respect for a rookie. Even with a small sample size, Bailey proved why he was taken No. 2 overall.
Tate’s Early Struggle for Separation
Not everyone hit it big, though. No. 4 pick Carnell Tate, the wide receiver, had a rough go, earning a C grade across 35 snaps. The big problem: none of the six passes thrown his way were completed. He really struggled to create any kind of separation out there, and the offense didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for him to get those easy wins. Being an Ohio State guy, you expect him to get open, but he was often stuck, battling two defenders. Definitely a bumpy start for him, and something he’s gotta fix fast.
As we stare down Week 1, these rookies are all on wildly different paths. Mendoza has some serious homework ahead of him. Love and Bailey? They look like legit game-changers from day one. Tate has to find his groove, and fast. The regular season is a whole different beast, a brutal grind, and it’s going to be wild watching how these top picks adjust when the real stakes hit.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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