Daily News 19

Tag: 2026 NFL Draft

  • Former Clemson Running Back Expected to Make Baltimore Ravens’ 53-Man Roster

    Former Clemson Running Back Expected to Make Baltimore Ravens’ 53-Man Roster

    Former Clemson running back Adam Randall is expected to make the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster following the end of the NFL preseason, according to Brian Wacker.

    Randall was selected by Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti with the 174th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and made an early impression during Baltimore’s preseason schedule.

    Adam Randall makes early impact for Ravens

    In his NFL preseason debut, Randall carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in a 24-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

    He missed Baltimore’s second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings because of an undisclosed injury. Head coach Jesse Minter said Randall was “working through things physically.”

    The rookie returned for the preseason finale, a 41-7 win over the Washington Commanders. He finished with five carries for 25 yards, including a powerful Derrick Henry-esque stiff arm.

    Asked what he demonstrated during the preseason, Randall repeated the same message he had delivered since the opener: execute the plan.

    “I said it in the first game, just that I can go out there and do it and continue to execute the plan to win each and every single play. And, you know, obviously we have great guys in our room, and you know, just being able to complement them as well.”

    Adam Randall’s transition from receiver to running back

    Randall’s football journey has become one of the most intriguing recent stories to emerge from Clemson.

    The 6-foot-3, 232-pound athlete initially joined the Tigers as a four-star wide receiver and one of the top prospects in South Carolina, according to 247Sports rankings.

    His college career began with a setback when he tore his ACL during his first spring camp. Randall returned by September and completed his true freshman season with 10 receptions for 128 yards across 12 games.

    Over the following two seasons, he did not take the next step as a pass-catcher. By the end of the 2024 season, his future at wide receiver was uncertain.

    Randall offered a glimpse of his potential in the backfield during the final two games of that season. He recorded a 41-yard punt return against SMU in the ACC Championship Game that set up the winning 56-yard field goal. He then lined up at running back against Texas in the first round of the College Football Playoff and rushed four times for 44 yards.

    After the season, Randall began considering a transfer. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney pushed to keep him in the program, and the two reached an agreement for Randall to transition to running back.

    Randall became a key Clemson playmaker

    The move proved highly successful. Randall was arguably Clemson’s best offensive player in 2025, finishing with 1,068 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns, the most on the team aside from quarterback Cade Klubnik.

    His preseason production and versatility now have him positioned to join the Baltimore Ravens’ 53-man roster.

  • Fernando Mendoza Could Face Even Worse Raiders News Nobody Expected

    Fernando Mendoza Could Face Even Worse Raiders News Nobody Expected

    Fernando Mendoza’s challenging start with the Las Vegas Raiders could take another unexpected turn after head coach Klint Kubiak declined to guarantee that the first overall pick will open the season as the team’s No. 2 quarterback.

    Kirk Cousins is widely expected to start, but Mendoza remains in competition with Aidan O’Connell for the backup role. That leaves open the possibility that one of the most prominent rookies in the 2026 NFL Draft could begin his professional career third on the quarterback depth chart.

    Klint Kubiak makes no guarantee on Mendoza’s QB2 role

    Kubiak was asked directly whether Mendoza or O’Connell would serve as Cousins’ backup if the veteran opens the season as Las Vegas’ starter.

    “We’ve got three guys that are ready to play. It’s going to be some hard decisions on who’s 1, who’s 2. That’s not a decision we have to make today, but those are discussions that are ongoing,” Kubiak said.

    The response gave Mendoza no assurances despite the significant investment the Raiders made by selecting him with the first pick in the draft.

    It would be highly unusual for a No. 1 overall quarterback to begin his rookie season as QB3. First overall picks are generally expected to start immediately or sit directly behind an experienced veteran.

    Mendoza could face a longer wait to play

    The Raiders appear to be in no rush to put Mendoza on the field. If Cousins wins the starting job and O’Connell is chosen as his primary backup, Mendoza could remain on the sideline even if Las Vegas needs to make an early-season quarterback change.

    Kubiak’s comments make clear that the Raiders’ quarterback hierarchy has not been finalized, creating another layer of uncertainty for Mendoza as his rookie season approaches.

    Sitting behind a veteran such as Cousins would already require patience from the first overall pick. Falling behind O’Connell as well would make for an even more surprising beginning to Mendoza’s NFL career.

    Mendoza has not officially been named QB3. However, Kubiak has made one point clear: his draft status alone will not guarantee him the backup quarterback job.

    Source: www.marca.com

  • Curt Cignetti: Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Success May Be Out of His Hands

    Curt Cignetti: Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Success May Be Out of His Hands

    Expectations are sky-high for Fernando Mendoza after the Las Vegas Raiders selected the former Indiana quarterback with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Curt Cignetti, who coached Mendoza during his remarkable collegiate ascent, cautions that evaluating the rookie solely on his individual performances overlooks how dependent any quarterback is on the supporting cast around him.

    Cignetti Praises Mendoza’s Tools and Mentality

    Speaking to NFL on ESPN, Cignetti emphasized Mendoza’s physical and mental readiness for the professional level.

    “Well, I think he’s got the tools, and mentally, he’s extremely smart, dedicated, committed, does everything he can to be the best he can be, a great teammate, and a great leader,”

    “He’s a great competitor on the field. He’s got a quick arm; he’s got good arm strength, and he’s got good mobility. So, he’s got a body of work out there, and he’s going to be a really good pro.”

    Cignetti Highlights What Mendoza Needs from Raiders

    The bigger uncertainty for Cignetti isn’t whether Mendoza possesses NFL-caliber talent, but whether Las Vegas can create the conditions necessary for him to showcase it immediately.

    “People ask me, ‘How do you think he’s going to do this year?’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know a whole lot about the Raiders, to be honest with you,’”

    “You know, you’ve got to have protection. You’ve got to have guys that can separate. You’ve got to have a run game. You’ve got to be able to play defense and special teams. It all goes hand in hand.”

    That supporting cast could become particularly important following an uneven start to Mendoza’s pro career.

    Preseason Struggles Raise Questions

    Across his first two preseason appearances, Mendoza completed 18 of 31 passes while taking two sacks and throwing one interception. His numbers when pressured have attracted particular scrutiny, with the rookie ranking near the bottom of preseason quarterbacks in both EPA per attempt and completion percentage under pressure.

    It marks a significant departure from the environment Mendoza enjoyed at Indiana, where strong protection, dependable offensive weapons, and an effective defense helped him flourish on his way to becoming college football’s standout player. Consequently, his early fortunes in Las Vegas could depend heavily on whether the Raiders can keep him protected and provide enough offensive support.

    Cignetti, though, remains convinced that even if success doesn’t arrive immediately, his former quarterback will eventually establish himself.

    “But he’s going to be a good pro if not this year, sometime soon,”