Shannon Sharpe is tempering expectations for No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. The Hall of Famer praised the Las Vegas Raiders' selection but warned of a looming roster crisis.

“Hopefully they've got a guy that can take them for the next 10-15 years and get them to where they need to be,” Sharpe stated, when he and Chad Johnson went live during the first round of the NFL Draft.

Last year, the Indiana Hoosiers’ Fernando Mendoza posted a completion rate of 72% while recording 3,535 passing yards, 41 TDs, and 6 interceptions. He won the Heisman Trophy and led the team to the National Championship.

It was widely speculated that Mendoza would go to the Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick, and it came true. Like everyone else, Shannon Sharpe liked the move as well. But that's not all.

He also noted that new head coach Klint Kubiak, who was hired after the Super Bowl, recently signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins, who could serve as a mentor to the rookie QB.

“I'm hoping you bring him in, allow him to sit, allow him to watch, allow him to learn and become a sponge behind Kirk Cousins, who was a proven veteran quarterback,” Sharpe further added.

“Maybe not in the playoffs success, but just being able to do what he needs to do and being able to have someone he can learn after.”

Reportedly, Mendoza has been privately working with Brian Griese, who is familiar with the Gary Kubiak system, and he also had a private workout in Bloomington, suggesting serious preparation and commitment.

Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins is also well aware of the system due to his time in Washington and Minnesota, which would further prove beneficial for the QB room.

Shannon Sharpe is confident that the Las Vegas Raiders might finally have a quarterback they have been searching for since 2000, who can stand toe-to-toe with the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert, something they were unable to achieve with JaMarcus Russell, Derek Carr, or Geno Smith.

But of course, only time will tell what Fernando Mendoza will bring to the table.

Raiders Have Gaps to Fill In Their Roster

Along with the QB selection, other positions need attention, as per Shannon Sharpe.

“They need many more pieces. They need a receiver. They need a dog. You know exactly what I mean. They need someone that they can actually count on,” Sharpe stated.

The Las Vegas Raiders have Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and others in their WR room. However, they still need a starting wide receiver, which, if not addressed, could cause problems for the new addition, as he would have no reliable target to count on.

“They got a whole lot of holes to fill. Don't allow this to be another draft casualty. That's a number one pick. Do right by your player, man,” Sharpe concluded.

Hopefully, everything falls into place for the Raiders from here.

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Written by

Monika Khatai

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason