Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Jun 9, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko (left) talks with quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza (15) and Kirk Cousins (8) during minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
The plan for the Las Vegas Raiders and first-year head coach is simple: let veteran Kirk Cousins start at quarterback while No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza gets used to life in the NFL.
However, plans are one thing, reality is another, and it appears that the Raiders have a dilemma on their hands before Mendoza even takes a snap in the pros.
“Ideally, you don’t want him to start from day one,” Kubiak previously told Fox Sports. “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 one, 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.”
But that may not be possible.
Fernando Mendoza Already Looks Better Than Kirk Cousins According To Report
It’s no secret that Mendoza is a tireless worker. He skipped Indiana’s visit to the White House after winning the national championship because he didn’t want to miss time at rookie camp.
Then he expressed his frustration with having to miss practice to attend the league’s annual rookie symposium.
But apparently, missing that time hasn’t set him back at all.
“When you’re out on the practice field, if Mendoza is clearly better than Kirk Cousins,” NFL reporter Mike Florio stated.“…And you’ve got some grand strategic plan that you’re going to let him sit for a year? What’s Maxx Crosby going to say about that? What’s Brock Bowers going to say about that? What’s any veteran player going to say
“We’ve a guy who we can all tell at every practice is better than Kirk Cousins as of right now, but you’ve got this plan that you’re going to groom Fernando Mendoza by having him not play, by deliberately choosing the lesser guy to be the quarterback. Good luck with that one, Klint Kubiak.”
Florioa makes a good point. How can you justify not playing Mendoza if he’s simply better than Cousins already?
Now, it’s entirely possible that won’t be the case when the real games actually start. But it sounds like it’s the case now, and if so, the Raiders have a problem on their hands, albeit a good one.