A little more than two months away from when they are widely expected to select Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza with the 1st overall pick, the Las Vegas Raiders have had a busy couple of days.
Entering Year 1 of the Klint Kubiak era, the Raiders were extremely aggressive on Day 1 of NFL free agency on Monday by bringing in over half a dozen impact players. Then on Tuesday, a wild situation erupted when the Ravens backed out of the blockbuster trade that would have sent Maxx Crosby to Baltimore in exchange for a pair of First Round picks for Vegas.
Shocking Maxx Crosby development changes everything for Raiders as Fernando Mendoza era nears
After all of that action, the Raiders don't appear to be showing any signs of slowing down. It now seems that Las Vegas is looking to bring in a veteran QB to help develop and mentor Mendoza in the early days of his NFL career.
Kirk Cousins could be a solid mentor for Fernando Mendoza
According to Dianna Russini, the Raiders are expected to show interest in 14-year NFL veteran Kirk Cousins as the franchise looks to add to its QB room along with Mendoza. Cousins was released by the Falcons on Wednesday and is now a free agent.
Expect the Las Vegas Raiders to show interest in Kirk Cousins as they look for a veteran QB addition to help develop presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. pic.twitter.com/TFNo023SnY
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 11, 2026
Earlier this offseason, the Raiders made the decision to release QB Geno Smith after just one season. Smith led the Raiders to just two wins in 15 games as the starter this past season, and threw an NFL-high 17 interceptions. His departure opens the door for another veteran gunslinger like Cousins to enter the picture.
Cousins' best days are behind him, but he can still be beneficial to a rebuilding team like the Raiders. Cousins' 14 years of NFL experience and expansive knowledge could make him an ideal mentor to help in Mendoza's development at the next level.
Furthermore, Las Vegas general manager John Spytek has already hinted at potentially not starting a young QB right away. Adding a guy like Cousins could push Mendoza in a QB competition and potentially start the season as Las Vegas' QB1 while Mendoza gets more familiar with Kubiak's offensive system.
The 2026 NFL Draft is set to take place from April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, and Mendoza is looking to be the second Indiana Hoosier selected with the 1st overall pick following Corbett "Corby" Davis in 1938.