Kirk Cousins is officially the Raiders’ starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins on September 13th, and that means their No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, is riding the pine to start his rookie season. This isn’t just a minor reshuffle, folks. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak dropped the news on Wednesday, signaling a clear path for the veteran Cousins, but a surprising start for the highly touted rookie.
Six Years of History Just Got Ignored
Mendoza, a No. 1 pick, won’t be under center for his team’s opening game. That decision just broke a wild streak across the league. ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out that Mendoza is the first No. 1 overall quarterback pick in six years *not* to be named the starter on opening day. That’s a huge deviation from what we’ve come to expect for top-tier rookie signal-callers. Kubiak talked about Mendoza’s development as a backup, saying there’s “early work, late work, more meetings, plenty of time on the field between drills with Coach Mike Sullivan and Coach Andrew Janocko.” He even added that players not starting are “helping us on the look team.” It sounds like they’re trying to spin it as a learning opportunity, but it’s still a No. 1 pick watching from the sideline.
Bridge QB Cousins Gets His $20 Million and The Keys
Let’s talk about the money and the plan. Cousins’ much-publicized five-year, $172 million contract is actually a one-year, fully guaranteed $20 million deal. That’s a pretty clear indicator of their strategy, right? It was obvious going into the offseason, after landing the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, that Cousins was the “bridge quarterback” before Mendoza took over. Now, that bridge is a bit longer than some probably expected. Kubiak seems all-in on Cousins for now, saying he “played really good football.” He added, “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it.” They even have fourth-year backup Aidan O’Connell for “extra insurance,” just in case.
Tom Brady’s Stamp on a Non-Playoff Season
And get this, Kubiak apparently spoke with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady “multiple times a week” before making this big call. So, TB12 had his fingerprints all over this decision. It makes you wonder how much pressure there was, or if Brady pushed for the veteran presence. The Raiders aren’t even expected to contend for a playoff spot in the competitive AFC this season, which really makes you scratch your head about not letting the No. 1 pick get experience right away. The team will likely put Mendoza in later in the season to give him some reps. For now, he’s just focusing on learning from Cousins.
So, while Kirk Cousins leads the Raiders onto the field against the Dolphins on September 13th, the real question for Las Vegas fans isn’t just about Week 1. It’s about when they’ll finally see their No. 1 pick Mendoza take the reins, and how ready he’ll be after this extended learning curve.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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