Kirk Cousins Las Vegas Raiders Fernando Mendoza
Getty
Kirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons
The Las Vegas Raiders are entering a new era for the storied franchise, with the chance to start fresh under new head coach Klint Kubiak while building around promising young stars like Ashton Jeanty, Brock Bowers, and, presumably, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
All signs point to the Raiders selecting the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as he checks all the boxes and seems like the ideal quarterback to help get this team back on track.
However, it is always a risky proposition to start a rookie quarterback right out of the gate, and it appears the Raiders aren’t planning to do so, as they recently signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Kirk Cousins Could Be Ideal Mentor for Fernando Mendoza
Kirk Cousins Las Vegas Raiders
GettyKirk Cousins #18 of the Atlanta Falcons
With Cousins now in the fold in Las Vegas and likely expected to be the Week 1 starter for the Raiders ahead of Mendoza, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com shared his thoughts on the veteran quarterback’s fit with his new team.
By handpicking Cousins to serve as the interim starter, new head coach Klint Kubiak is handing the ball to a trusted veteran who understands his schemes, expectations and standards. Additionally, he is installing a role model in the quarterback room for Mendoza to learn from as he prepares to become the face of the franchise.
Although some might question starting Cousins over Mendoza, as there have been some recent examples of rookie quarterbacks being successful right away, like CJ Stroud with the Houston Texans and Washington Commanders star Jayden Daniels, the safe move is going with the veteran to begin the 2026 NFL season, especially considering Cousins’ success with Kubiak in Minnesota.
Given his proven success with Kubiak, Cousins should have no trouble convincing Mendoza to trust the process and the progressions in film sessions and on the practice field while showing him how to run the offense like a Jedi master on game day. Yes, Cousins’ game and skills have diminished since his impressive run in the early 2020s, but he has the experience, expertise and temperament to be the perfect mentor for the young quarterback.
Even though Cousins will presumably be the Week 1 starter and justifiably so, there’s no telling how much football the veteran gunslinger has left in him, as it didn’t take long for Michael Penix Jr. to take his job with the Atlanta Falcons.
Klint Kubiak Makes Stance Clear on Rookie Quarterbacks
Klink Kubiak Kirk Cousins Fernando Mendoza Las Vegas Raiders
GettyLas Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak
Although anything can happen between now and the first game of the 2026 campaign, the Raiders having Cousins led the way seems to be the way Kubiak is leaning, as he admitted that starting a rookie right away isn’t the wisest decision, via NFL.com.
“Ideally, you don’t want [a rookie QB] to start from Day 1,” Kubiak said Tuesday. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day 1, and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”