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 is still plenty of room to improve.“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 has taken more control of the offense, looked more fluid in his footwork and appeared to be getting through his reads more easily 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 Mendoza worked mostly with the third string during OTAs, the coaching staff has elevated him to Kirk Cousins’ backup, ahead of Aidan O’Connell. Cousins and Mendoza took the majority of the competitive reps during the team’s first two training camp practices.Maxx Crosby is back in Las Vegas with a vengeanceSam WarrenMendoza wasn’t tasked with much in the team’s first session, but the Raiders opened things up for him Thursday 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 their future. But he is in no rush to claim that role. 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 probably begin his career on the bench. On Thursday, he said he is 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 it’s really a 50-50 ball because you didn’t throw in the correct timing.’”