The Los Angeles Chargers have a lot to look forward to in 2026.
They're instituting an entirely new offensive structure under Mike McDaniel— one that should better leverage their existing weapons and maximize the talents of quarterback Justin Herbert as both an accurate short-yardage passer and a downfield hurler.
In terms of the race for the AFC West, their primary concern at the moment is the Denver Broncos, who are returning much of last season's roster but have major room for regression. Their 11 one-score victories in 2025 provides ample evidence of that fact.
But it's worth at least keeping an eye on the training camp happenings of the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders, as a more competitive division makes things tougher for the Chargers in terms of their playoff path in 2026.
So far, the biggest storyline— and the biggest riser— from either of those teams has been rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who's consistently impressed in his "command of the offense" since his arrival in camp, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Raiders OC Andrew Janocko.
"The quarterback’s increased comfort level was visible during the opening days of training camp. He has taken more control of the offense, looked more fluid in his footwork and appeared to be getting through his reads more easily than in offseason practices. That was confirmed by offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, who said Mendoza has grown the most in his 'command of the offense' since arriving in Las Vegas." Vic Tafur, The Athletic
At this point, it's unlikely that the Chargers will need to face Mendoza in their Week 2 matchup with Las Vegas. But by the time they reach Week 14, it's entirely possible that Mendoza has taken over for the Raiders, and his long-term development will be something to watch over the course of 2026.
Fernando Mendoza is already laying the groundwork to take over in Las Vegas
As of now, the QB1 for the Raiders is Kirk Cousins, who signed with Las Vegas after he was released by the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. He's the veteran quarterback there, and the starting job appears to be his for the moment.
But in terms of the long-term trajectory of the Raiders offense, it's only a matter of when Mendoza takes over, not if.
There's room to doubt Mendoza's ceiling as a first-overall pick, especially considering his limited college résumé apart from his final, championship season at Indiana. But in terms of composure and athletic skill set, he's the best thing the Raiders have had under center in years. With Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty in the fold, there's a chance for Las Vegas to make a push toward competitiveness over the next couple of seasons.
Given the way Los Angeles' schedule is laid out, they need to take both games from the Raiders in 2026. If Mendoza is still getting his feet under him by the time they reach their matchup in Week 14, that should be a relatively easy task.
But if Mendoza takes over in, say, Week 6 and is able to find his groove under Klint Kubiak's quarterback-maximizing offensive scheme, that second matchup could suddenly become a lot tougher than one might've projected before the start of the season.
To be clear— the Raiders aren't a real threat to the Chargers' chances at an AFC West title, and they probably won't be for the foreseeable future. But with a dominant Broncos defense and a Chiefs team that still has Patrick Mahomes at the helm already standing in their way, any advancements from Las Vegas could quickly make the AFC West the most competitive division in football.
For now, it's only training camp, and Mendoza has a long way to go before he proves himself as the QB of the future that Las Vegas hopes he can be. But it's undoubtedly the better outcome for the Chargers if Cousins maintains his grip on the starting quarterback job for the entirety of 2026.
Mendoza's continued improvement makes it seem like that won't be the case for long.
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