Kirk Cousins’ Role as Raiders Quarterback

Having Kirk Cousins start the season for the Raiders makes a lot of sense. He’s a seasoned veteran who understands Klint Kubiak’s system, and right now, he probably offers more stability than Fernando Mendoza. Sure, he might not have the athleticism he once did, but Cousins certainly gives the Raiders a solid chance to win right off the bat.

So, they should go ahead and start him.

If the 38-year-old Cousins finds some sort of late-career resurgence, and the offense gels quicker than anyone expects, keeping him in that role makes sense—especially if the Raiders stay competitive for the playoffs. They should go all in and see how far that momentum takes them.

But here’s the thing: that’s really the only situation where Mendoza should be observing from the sidelines in his rookie season.

The moment playoff hopes fade, Mendoza must hit the field. It shouldn’t be a matter of “eventually.” There shouldn’t be a waiting period filled with excuses for keeping him benched.

This needs to happen right away.

However, Kubiak didn’t even name Mendoza as the backup; he hinted that Aidan O’Connell could step in for Cousins instead.

“We’ve got three guys ready to play,” Kubiak mentioned recently. “It’s going to be tough deciding who’s 1 and who’s 2.”

But honestly? It’s not that tough of a choice.

Mendoza ought to be QB2.

O’Connell is competent and has handled his role professionally, but there’s no scenario where he should block Mendoza from getting valuable playing time.

If Cousins goes down, Mendoza should be the one to take over. If Cousins struggles as the team slips out of playoff contention, that’s when they have to make the switch.

The Raiders picked Mendoza first overall because they see him as their future franchise quarterback, so his development should be a top priority for the team.

This doesn’t mean throwing him into the fire without preparation. It’s about understanding that true readiness comes not just from meetings or practice but also from real game situations.

Mendoza needs to experience facing an NFL pass rush, making protection calls, bouncing back from mistakes, and navigating coverage that can catch him off guard. He has to learn how fast those throwing windows can shut and what risks could lead to losses.

These lessons will come sooner or later. There’s no reason to delay this learning experience into 2027.

Unique Situations with Quarterbacks

Sure, I understand that Tom Brady, the Raiders’ honorary president of football operations, draws from his own rookie experience, where he spent a season developing before taking the reins.

That was Brady’s path, but it’s not Mendoza’s. And not every NFL career follows the same pattern.

Brady was a sixth-round pick behind Drew Bledsoe, a well-established quarterback who had taken the Patriots to a Super Bowl. No one expected Brady to challenge for the job as a rookie. The Patriots had barely invested in him.

That situation is vastly different from Mendoza’s.

The Raiders didn’t draft Mendoza as a developmental project. They chose him to be the focus of their franchise and the foundation for their future.

Comparisons to Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love don’t hold up either. Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith with a playoff-ready team; they didn’t need him to rebuild the franchise.

Even the Chiefs were eliminated early that year while Mahomes was on the bench. It raises questions about what might have happened if he had played. Maybe it was better for him, or maybe he could have helped them further.

Rodgers was the 24th pick, sitting behind MVP Brett Favre, while Love was selected as a backup to a high-performing Rodgers. On the other hand, Mendoza is the first overall pick for a team that is in need of rebuilding.

Context matters immensely. The Raiders can’t use someone else’s success as a reason to delay their own journey.

There’s this pervasive fear around starting a rookie quarterback, but history tells us countless high first-round picks have thrived right from the start, even with their fair share of struggles.

Learning Through Experience

Peyton Manning had a rough rookie season, throwing an NFL-record 28 interceptions. Troy Aikman went winless as a starter. John Elway struggled with completions and turned the ball over way too much.

Similarly, Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, and C.J. Stroud all learned on the job, and more recently, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye were placed on the field early for real-time learning experiences.

Sure, some faced tougher challenges than others, but those struggles didn’t derail their careers; they were valuable lessons. Having young quarterbacks play can be smart, provided they have the right support from their organizations. Using fear of mistakes to justify keeping them on the sidelines is the real danger.

By season’s end, the Raiders need clarity on Mendoza: is he quick enough to process plays? Can he protect the ball? How does he deal with pressure? And can he lead an NFL huddle? These questions won’t get answered while he’s holding a clipboard.

He also needs to develop chemistry with young teammates like Brock Bowers and understand how Ashton Jeanty’s presence opens up passing lanes. He must learn to navigate this offensive line as well.

The objective shouldn’t just be about surviving the 2026 season. They should aim to set the groundwork for a significant leap in 2027—figuring out which players mesh well with Mendoza, ensuring the line can support him, and identifying what the offense still needs.

Above all, Mendoza needs to head into 2027 with some experience under his belt, not shrouded in uncertainty.

Keeping a young quarterback on the bench can be beneficial if there’s an established starter and a competitive squad in place. But holding Mendoza back simply because one veteran is seen as a safer choice in a season lacking direction? Well, that’s more about fear than genuine patience.

The Raiders can’t let concerns about Mendoza’s potential struggles hold him back from reaching his full potential. Investing the first overall pick in such a critical position means they shouldn’t treat each snap like a fragile resource not to be used.