Fernando Mendoza conversations taking shape as Raiders’ mirage comes to pass

The Raiders didn’t draft Mendoza first overall to rescue their present. They drafted him to change their future. Those two timelines are starting to inch toward each other, and a decision that seemed comfortably down the road during a 3-0 start could arrive much sooner than anticipated. As a result, the next two weeks could go a long way in determining when the Raiders make the switch from veteran Kirk Cousins to Mendoza, the Indiana National Champion and Heisman Trophy winner and the quarterback the Raiders have every intention of becoming the face of their franchise.