Raiders football is finally back — sort of. Fernando Mendoza gets his first real NFL test as the Las Vegas Raiders prepare for their preseason matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. RJ Clifford and Juan Soto break down exactly what they want to see from Mendoza, Klint Kubiak in his first game as a head coach, Ashton Jeanty, the rebuilt offensive line and a young Raiders secondary full of intriguing pieces. Plus, how worried should Raider Nation be about Jackson Powers-Johnson? Can Hezekiah Masses or Jermod McCoy emerge in the secondary? And RJ and Juan go to war over the Maxx Crosby-Kirk Cousins training camp scuffle. Also: Derek Carr goes to UCLA, Matt Gay jokes inevitably happen, and preseason football gets compared to something we probably shouldn’t put in a YouTube description.

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The Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza Plan Is Already Being Tested

The Autumn Windbags are back. RJ Clifford and Johnny Soto return to discuss the latest Las Vegas Raiders news after a two-month hiatus.

After a break from the show, RJ Clifford and Johnny Soto reconnect to break down the team landscape. This episode marks the official return of The Autumn Windbags, focusing on what fans missed while the hosts were away. If you have been following the off-season, this conversation serves as the perfect bridge to get back up to speed with the latest NFL commentary.

Johnny Soto also touches on his ongoing Raiders vs the World content, which kept the community engaged throughout the off-season. Whether you are a die-hard follower of the Las Vegas Raiders or just looking for unfiltered sports talk, this episode provides the insight you need to prepare for the season ahead.

Subscribe for weekly Raiders podcast updates, and let us know in the comments which team storyline you are most excited to follow this year.

00:00 The Autumn Windbags are back

01:44 Football season has officially arrived

03:14 Biggest Raiders training camp takeaways

05:36 Fernando Mendoza’s early growing pains

07:23 Why the Raiders defense is ahead

09:29 Raiders offensive line battle

15:33 Malik Benson’s breakout training camp

18:49 How Kubiak can weaponize the Raiders’ speed

21:08 Is the Raiders culture actually changing?

22:41 When will Fernando Mendoza start?

28:21 Raider Nation cannot rush Mendoza

29:09 Should the Raiders trade Aidan O’Connell?

34:40 Maxx Crosby addresses the Ravens drama

36:51 Maxx Crosby’s revenge tour

38:39 Evaluating the Raiders receivers

40:28 Does the team need to be ready for Mendoza?

43:28 Why Germans love David Hasselhoff

44:37 Football—and the Windbags—are back

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The countdown to Raiders opening day is officially on. RJ Clifford and Juan Soto break down the latest Raiders OTA notes, including Kirk Cousins running the offense, Fernando Mendoza’s development, Tre Tucker’s role as a possible WR1, the current offensive line setup, Ashton Jeanty expectations, and Maxx Crosby’s rehab timeline. Then the Windbags get into the massive Myles Garrett trade to the Rams and what it means for elite edge rushers like Maxx Crosby. Plus, is Tom Brady quietly becoming the closest thing the Raiders have had to Al Davis since Al Davis?

Subscribe for more Raiders news, rumors, analysis and irresponsible optimism.

Chapters

0:00 Raiders opening day countdown begins

1:13 Raiders OTA notes and defensive updates

3:56 Kirk Cousins vs. Fernando Mendoza timeline

6:30 Is Tre Tucker becoming WR1?

9:00 Ashton Jeanty has no more excuses

11:56 Raiders starting offensive line update

13:55 Fernando Mendoza to Brock Bowers hype

16:27 Maxx Crosby rehab update

21:37 Myles Garrett traded to the Rams

23:40 What the Garrett trade means for Maxx Crosby

27:59 Is Tom Brady becoming the new Al Davis?

30:32 How should Raiders use Ashton Jeanty?

32:47 Washington DC, UFC and Nintendo trauma

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Raiders OTAs Quietly REVEALED the Real Fernando Mendoza Plan

0:00 Intro

0:49 116 Days Until Raiders Opening Day

2:44 Klint Kubiak’s Message to the Team

4:59 Raiders OTA Reports Begin

5:20 Kubiak’s QB Quote on Fernando Mendoza

6:14 Why the QB Quote Will Get Blown Out of Proportion

7:33 When Should Fernando Mendoza Start?

8:54 Derek Carr vs. Matt Schaub Comparison

9:36 Ashton Jeanty’s Workload

11:30 Roman Hemby vs. Dylan Laube

13:04 First Unofficial Raiders Offensive Line

15:09 Raiders O-Line Locks and Question Marks

18:10 Jermod McCoy OTA Update

20:26 Why the Raiders Are Still Hard to Predict

22:08 Could the Raiders Shock People?

25:31 Raiders Ownership Shakeup

27:06 Raiders Ownership Percentages

28:37 Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro’s Impact

30:40 Raiders Finally Have Adults in the Room

31:38 Mark Shapiro’s ESPN “Playmakers” Story

32:54 Raiders vs. The World Preview

34:14 Final Thoughts

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No BS Raiders Roster Evaluation

0:00 RJ’s Australia disaster story

1:15 Full NO-BS Raiders roster evaluation begins

1:57 Breaking down the new-look defense

4:21 Why the secondary could get ugly early

6:49 Raiders defense is better… but how soon?

8:36 Rob Leonard’s huge challenge

10:39 The offense has BIG questions too

12:07 Why the offensive line is still a mess

14:58 The Raiders finally have OL depth

17:17 Could Raiders use more 13 personnel?

19:23 Best Raiders QB room in years?

21:29 Which rookies contribute immediately?

24:28 The terrifying Jamal McCoy gamble

27:13 Raiders ranked 28th in NFL roster rankings

31:49 Would beating KC actually hurt the Raiders?

34:48 Most overrated NFL media event?

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Raiders 2026 NFL Draft Primer | Fernando Mendoza Welcome Party, Ep.355

0:00 Welcome + Mendoza Era Begins

0:07 Raiders finally united at QB

0:33 Expectations vs reality for Mendoza

1:35 Why this draft feels different

3:44 Draft night girlfriend debate (focus vs distractions)

7:22 Matt Ryan comp controversy

8:47 The reality of QB bust rates

11:26 QB comparison game begins

12:04 Lamar Jackson debate

13:00 Goff, Hurts, Herbert tier discussion

15:58 Baker, Richardson, floor vs ceiling

17:24 Derek Carr standard debate

20:11 Raiders draft strategy overview

23:17 What Raiders should target next

27:09 Value vs scouting debate

35:05 Klint Kubiak leadership question

45:07 Final thoughts + draft outlook

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The Hidden Problem with Drafting Fernando Mendoza… and John Spytek Knows It

0:00 Juan Soto Returns to The Autumn Windbags

1:18 The Show Is Changing

2:01 Seven Days Until the Draft

2:38 What Are the Odds the Raiders Trade the #1 Pick?

5:04 Why the Raiders Already Built Around Fernando Mendoza

7:32 The Truth About Drafting Quarterbacks

9:42 Why the Rookie Wage Scale Changes Everything

12:16 The Raiders Are Trying Not to Fail Their QB

14:16 John Spytek’s Most Revealing Quote

18:46 The Biggest Criticism of Fernando Mendoza

20:06 Why Elite Physical Traits Don’t Matter

23:36 Mendoza’s Real Superpower

26:27 What the Raiders’ Top-30 Visits Reveal

31:47 Why the Kirk Cousins Contract Was Genius

35:34 Why The Autumn Windbags Is Changing

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Kirk Cousins to the Raiders + Mendoza Pro Day

Kirk Cousins is going to the Raiders. The Raiders need a veteran quarterback who can start right away, teach Fernando Mendoza how to be a pro, and help Klint Kubiak install his offense. Cousins checks every box. He already knows Kubiak, he can operate the system, and you know he and Kubiak are going to spend all day texting, talking football and nerding out over every detail. That’s why Fernando Mendoza’s Pro Day mattered so much. Mendoza didn’t show up trying to win social media with some ridiculous 70-yard throw. He reportedly completed 53 of 56 passes and focused on exactly what the Raiders needed to see: under-center footwork, play-action, timing, rhythm and operating an NFL offense. He looked smoother under center, more comfortable throwing on the move, and far more polished in the areas that matter in Klint Kubiak’s system. Honestly, Mendoza’s Pro Day looked less like a job interview and more like the Raiders checking to make sure Kirk Cousins’ future replacement is ready when the time comes. Plus: Why Kirk Cousins to the Raiders feels like a lock Why Mendoza looked like QB1 Klint Kubiak’s reaction at Pro Day John Spytek’s comments on how organizations ruin young quarterbacks Tre Tucker being wildly underrated Tom Brady’s role behind the scenes Tyler Linderbaum rumors Would you still trade the #1 pick for three firsts and a player? Subscribe to The Autumn Windbags for Raiders news, rumors, reactions and analysis.

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