Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
Getty
(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ QB room is beginning to take shape after the signing of veteran signal-caller Kirk Cousins. Then, on April 23, many expect the Silver and Black to take former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
As a result, the Raiders would have an experienced QB to start if head coach Klint Kubiak doesn’t feel Mendoza is ready to take the reins. After finishing dead last during the 2025 NFL season, Las Vegas at least wants to compete in 2026, and Cousins will allow them to do that and not force a rookie QB into the fire.
Nonetheless, if the Silver and Black do select Mendoza, everyone knows he’s the future of the franchise. As a result, during an appearance on “Good Morning Football,” Cousins spoke about the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and kind of let the cat out of the bag that he and Mendoza will be teammates.
“Honestly, I don’t want to start unless I’m the best option,”Cousins said on the April 8 edition of “Good Morning Football.” “I told Klint the best players should play. As long as that’s the case, I have no qualms with however it plays out. I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team.
“He’s going to have a great future in the league. I have no problem being a voice in the room to help him to the degree that I can. He’s going to have great support all around him from the coaching staff. Being able to watch a veteran quarterback go through his habits, routines, and process can be a great asset for him.”
Raiders Get Eye-Catching NFL Comparison for Fernando Mendoza
Moreover, ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. gave an NFL quarterback comparison for Mendoza, and if he is accurate, it would allow Las Vegas to have a guy who can help them challenge for Super Bowls in the future.
“I think what you look at with Fernando is a cross between Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan,“Kiper said during an April 7 appearance on ESPN Radio. “I’m not a comp guy, because we always comp them to the great guys, but yeah, I see a little Peyton in him. I see a little Matt Ryan in him.
“And keep in mind, people think he’s a one-year wonder. He’s not. At Cal, he was a really good quarterback behind a bad offensive line. That’s why he was sacked 41 times. He knew he had to get the ball out quicker, and he improved on that number dramatically at Indiana when he got a little bit more help.”
Fernando Mendoza Addresses Major Concern Before NFL Draft
Questions remain, though, about how smoothly he’ll transition from Indiana’s RPO-style offense to a more traditional NFL-style offense.
Still, Mendoza is tackling those concerns head-on. Even before the Raiders or any team makes a pick, he’s working on adapting to a pro-style offense and refining the skills he knows will be crucial at the next level.
During an April 7 appearance on “Football 301 with Nate Tice,“ Mendoza downplayed the RPO narrative surrounding him, calling it a potential concern for the Raiders or any team that selects him.
“The RPO narrative can definitelybe seen as a knock,“ Mendoza said. “However, I’ve actually had four different offensive coordinators and four different systems, from pro-style myfreshman year to run-and-shoot, to pure Air Raid, and last year, a more multiple-front approach.
“I also think the RPO forces you to make split-second decisions, reading defenders and how they move, and reacting in real time.”