Raiders Draft Mendoza, Stukes for Offensive, Defensive Boost

0:00On April 24, the Raiders locked in their franchise quarterback Thursday night by drafting Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. They're banking on him to leave the offense long term. Then in Round 2, at Pick 38, they grab Arizona defensive back trade in Stoops, hoping he turns into a shutdown corner. Stoops started as a walk on and stuck around for six college seasons, showing real grit. That kind of journey builds toughness you can't coach. His versatility stands out. He's played inside, outside, and could slide right into the nickel roll in the pros. Teams love that flexibility for modern defenses. Over his career, he racked up seven interceptions and 29 pass breakups, proving he can disrupt passes at a high level. With Mendoza under center and Stoops bolstering the secondary, the Raiders are building pieces that could flip their fortunes quick. That's your update from NFL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.