Former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Mike Mayock revealed he is in favor of the team signing Kirk Cousins as a bridge quarterback for the incoming Fernando Mendoza
12:24 ET, 03 Apr 2026Updated 12:24 ET, 03 Apr 2026
New Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins grins on the sideline
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The Las Vegas Raiders signed Kirk Cousins to a five-year contract(Image: Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former Las Vegas Raiders general manager and NFL Draft guru Mike Mayock believes signing Kirk Cousins will benefit Fernando Mendoza’s future as a franchise quarterback.
Mayock, who served as the Raiders’ GM from 2019 to 2021, offered his opinion on how signing a veteran quarterback like Cousins will ultimately help Mendoza, the presumed No. 1 overall pick for Las Vegas in this month’s NFL Draft.
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The former NFL Network analyst detailed how bringing in Cousins positions the Raiders and Mendoza well for the 2026 season and beyond, as it will allow new head coach Klint Kubiak to develop the rookie before officially naming him as the starting quarterback.
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“I know Klint Kubiak and their guys believe in playing a rookie quarterback when he's ready, not necessarily Week 1, not necessarily Week 14 or even year two, but when he's ready,” Mayock told Betway.
“It's not just about him, it's when the organization has the infrastructure to support him. What does your pass protection look like? What does your run game look like? How good is your defense?
“This now gives the Raiders the opportunity to start with a veteran. They spent a lot of money, intelligently, in free agency, and they've got a chance to develop Fernando Mendoza behind Kirk Cousins.
"So I love the fact that they don't necessarily have to start the kid Week 1.”
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at his Pro Day
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Mendoza, the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, could start as the Raiders' backup QB(Image: Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
So often in today’s NFL, a rookie quarterback is thrown into the fray immediately and struggles with the transition from college football to the pros.
For Mendoza, a potential future superstar, the benefit of learning from a seasoned veteran like Cousins could prove immeasurable once Kubiak and the Raiders deem him ready for the starting job, even if that means sitting him his entire rookie season.
After Cousins reportedly refrained from mentoring Michael Penix Jr. during his time with the Atlanta Falcons, Mayock believes, by signing with the Raiders, the veteran signal-caller has accepted that he will act as a mentor for Mendoza, rather than strictly someone who he is competing against for the starting job.
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“(Kirk) wants to start, and I like that he was a little pissed off in Atlanta,” Mayock said.
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“Not that I agree with it, but I liked it because it shows me he doesn't want to just sit and get paid $50 million to not play. He wants to go play. So I think he'll challenge Mendoza in a good way.
“People don't understand what veteran quarterbacks do during the week to get ready for a game. They use the young quarterbacks to get them ready by giving the young quarterbacks assignments.
“So Mendoza not only is going to get taught by the coaches, Kirk Cousins is probably going to say, ‘here's what I need you to do to help me get ready this week.’ And I love that, because it forces him to prepare and learn how to prepare like he's a starting quarterback.”