Raiders Name Kirk Cousins Starting QB Over No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza After 3-14 Season

Q: With a brutal AFC West schedule, how short is Kirk Cousins' leash before the Raiders unleash their $57 million rookie quarterback?

Kirk Cousins’ leash looks fairly short by veteran-starter standards, but probably not immediate: if the Raiders stumble early and the offense still looks stuck by midseason, Fernando Mendoza becomes a very real option. Everything about Las Vegas’ offseason points to Cousins as a bridge quarterback, not a long-term answer. He was signed to a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million deal, while Mendoza arrived as the No. 1 overall pick on a fully guaranteed four-year, $57.27 million contract with a $38.1 million signing bonus. That investment gives the Raiders no pressure to rush Mendoza in Week 1, but every incentive to turn to him once the season’s direction becomes clear. The schedule matters. The Raiders open with a demanding stretch that includes the Chargers, Chiefs, Patriots and Bills before mid-October, and outside projections have them favored in only a few games. That means Cousins may not be judged purely on win-loss record. More likely, Klint Kubiak will look for whether the offense is functioning better than last year’s league-worst unit, whether Cousins is protecting the ball, and whether the rebuilt line is translating into efficiency. If Cousins is merely steady, he likely keeps the job into November. But if the Raiders are, say, 2-5 or 2-6 and the offense remains near the bottom of the league, the logic for staying with a 37-year-old bridge weakens quickly. At that point, Mendoza — already viewed as the franchise quarterback — would be the natural pivot.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 6

Las Vegas will open the season with Kirk Cousins at quarterback, opting for the veteran over No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza.
A 3-14 finish in 2025 and an NFL-worst 241 points pushed the Raiders to overhaul the offense, hiring Klint Kubiak and rebuilding the quarterback room.
Cousins arrived on a multi-year free-agent deal, while Mendoza was drafted to develop behind him rather than start immediately.
The decision fits a broader reset around Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby and an upgraded roster, though playoff expectations remain modest in the AFC West.

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Fox News3h ago

Kirk Cousins Named Raiders Starting QB Over No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza

WJXT News4JAX 3h ago

Klint Kubiak selects Kirk Cousins as Raiders starting QB for opener against Miami

Sporting News22h ago

Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza gets unfortunate November QB job projection | Sporting News

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With a brutal AFC West schedule, how short is Kirk Cousins' leash before the Raiders unleash their $57 million rookie quarterback?

Can the Raiders' revamped offense actually compete without a true No. 1 receiver, or will relying on tight ends stall their rebuild?

Despite shutting down trade rumors, could another losing season force Las Vegas to finally deal star defender Maxx Crosby?

Raiders Name Kirk Cousins Starting QB Over No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza After 3-14 Season

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