The Las Vegas Raiders must decide between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza at quarterback. The 37-year-old is currently battling it out with the 22-year-old during training camp.
However, it appears as though the hierarchy is already set.
Head coach Klint Kubiack would prefer to sit the NFL rookie behind the seasoned veteran in 2026. How long will that last? This is the only story that anybody cares about. That will continue to be the case until the team wins a lot of games or makes a change.
The Las Vegas Raiders want to start Kirk Cousins at quarterback.
Kirk Cousins signed with the Raiders on April 6 on a one-year deal worth $20 million. Las Vegas drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft just a few weeks later.
It was deja vu all over again for Cousins, who was just replaced by Michael Penix in Atlanta. And yet, he remains humble.
“I think we all want to play, but I made this clear to Klint (Kubiak) that the best player needs to play. If that’s not me, I don’t want to be out there. If I am the best option, then I believe it’s important that those guys are out there. But I’m excited to get the chance to lead and help influence in the locker room and do my part, do my role, and just, most importantly, help our team win.”
The 15-year veterans sees the quarterback room as more of a collaborative effort than an individual effort. They are all pulling in the same direction.
“Nobody’s leading more than someone else. I think we’re all a working force together, helping each other, giving feedback, giving perspective [and] giving another set of eyes […] “I’ve always felt I prepare my best during the season when we can all kind of be together in that room in the evening, going over things together rather than working in our own. I think when we can kind of all be given feedback on each other, that’s when I think the best ideas come out.”
Mendoza is taking a similar approach. He does not consider Cousins an enemy. He sees him as an associate.
“Competing with each other [is] pushing each other to be the best quarterback we can possibly be for the Las Vegas Raiders, and to enable [us] to then win as many games as possible. Against [is] withholding information, wishing maybe not the best intent on somebody.”
Kubiack wants to start the veteran over the rookie. The first-year head coach made it clear before the start of training camp.
“When we go out to [the first day of] practice, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback. He’s the guy. And he’s going to get a ton of reps. And he deserves them, because he’s played really good football. But I want Fernando (Mendoza) and I want Aidan (O’Connell) to push him.”
Las Vegas’ blueprint creates something of a dilemma with the No. 1 overall pick. What if Mendoza outshines Cousins during training camp? At what point will his teammates call for a change? Everybody wants to see the Heisman Trophy winner play!
Fernando Mendoza is working with the 2s at training camp.
Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, knew that he wanted to begin the 2026 season with a veteran quarterback to take the pressure off of the rookie. Kirk Cousins will be the starter but he knows that could change at any moment.
Fernando Mendoza ran with the second unit during the first day of training camp.
Cousins got every rep with the first team offense.
Aidan O’Connell was third.
This is a great idea. For now. We have seen this happen so many times before. What happens if the Raiders don’t win?
If Las Vegas does not start the season strong with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, fans are going to call for Fernando Mendoza. Players might also want to make a change. The front office may not be willing to do so. They signed a veteran to keep the rookie on the sideline.
In an ideal world, Cousins plays well enough to make a run at the Super Bowl. If not, the quarterback controversy will continue to get louder. It is only the first day of training camp and this is already the biggest story. It is not going away!