Fernando Mendoza, The No. 1 Overall Pick, Is QB3 For The Raiders And The League Noticed

Hold up, sports fans! Did you catch the latest out of Raiders camp? We're talking Fernando Mendoza, the guy they just drafted as the *No. 1 overall pick*, and he's already lining up as the third-string quarterback at OTAs! Seriously, I had to double-take. This is wild, an absolute stunner when you think about the hype around a top pick. What gives?

The No. 1 Pick Is On The Bench, Folks!

This is the kind of news that makes you spill your coffee, even if it's not our boys in green and blue. Ryan McFadden from ESPN spilled the beans: during Wednesday's OTA practice, it was Kirk Cousins, the veteran, taking the first snaps. Then came Aidan O'Connell, and *only then* did we see Fernando Mendoza, the very top of the draft class. Coach Klint Kubiak hasn't named a starter yet, but come on, the optics here for a No. 1 pick are rough. McFadden’s report suggests Cousins is the heavy favorite to start Week 1, given his NFL experience and familiarity with Kubiak's system. They're easing Mendoza into the offense, which, fine, but still. A number one overall pick being eased in behind two other guys? Kubiak says Mendoza has been "as advertised," so what's the holdup? This is a storyline that's gonna have everyone watching that Raiders depth chart like a hawk. You draft a guy No. 1 overall, you expect him to at least be QB2, right?

The Bears Are Busy On The Market

Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears are out there making some moves themselves, picking up a couple of guys. First up, they grabbed defensive back Anthony Johnson. Jordan Schultz reported this one: Johnson was a seventh-round pick back in 2023 by the Packers, so he's got a little experience from our old NFC North rivals. He's appeared in 21 regular-season games, logged 29 tackles, 20 solo, and snatched one interception along with four pass breakups. He's probably looking at a reserve role, but hey, every little bit counts! Then there's Salvon Ahmed, a running back who signed with the Bears after a tough year. Ahmed missed the entire 2025 season because of a serious ankle injury he suffered during training camp with the Colts. It was a hip-drop tackle that sidelined him, so it's awesome to hear he's healthy and ready to compete for a spot in Chicago's backfield. The 27-year-old has put up 593 career rushing yards and five touchdowns on 163 carries across 38 regular-season games. Plus, he can play special teams, which we all know is massive for making a roster. Good for him, hoping for a full comeback story there!

Castle's Rollercoaster Night In The Western Conference Finals

Over in the NBA, things are getting spicy in the Western Conference Finals. Stephon Castle for the Spurs had himself a night of highs and lows against the Thunder in Game 2. He dropped 25 points, grabbed five boards, and dished out eight assists, plus a steal in 38 minutes! Dude was in attack mode, throwing down highlight-reel jams and scoring mostly in the paint. That's big-time production. But here's the kicker: he also racked up a game-high *nine turnovers* and struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 1-for-6 from deep. The Spurs still lost 122-113, and Castle finished a minus-11. He's gotta clean up those turnovers if the Spurs want to get back in this series when it heads to San Antonio. You can't be giving away that many possessions in a playoff game, especially against a team like the Thunder. It's still early in the season for some, and others are already battling in the postseason, but there's no shortage of drama! We're watching that Raiders QB battle closely, wondering if Mendoza can leapfrog ahead before Week 1. And can Castle tighten up his game for Game 3? You know we'll be watching!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.