Mark Davis, the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, just dropped a bombshell, saying he’s feeling “absolutely no pressure whatsoever” to start their top overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, at quarterback this season. Think about that for a second. A No. 1 draft pick, and the owner is cool as a cucumber about him riding the bench.
Why the No. 1 Pick Is Still Watching From the Sidelines
Davis laid out his reasoning on CNBC, acknowledging the massive “pressure put on teams when they draft a guy No. 1 that you have to play him right away.” But for the Raiders, that’s not the play. He credits Kirk Cousins as the perfect “bridge the gap” guy, letting Mendoza learn the ropes. The plan is for the young phenom to grasp “what football is in the pros, the speed of the game and the things that have to be done.” Davis seems genuinely pleased, saying Mendoza is “picking it up great” and that they are “fortunate he doesn’t have to go out and play” before he’s truly ready. That’s a smart long-game strategy, letting your investment marinate instead of tossing him into the fire too soon.
Cousins Is Playing Too Well to Sit Down
So, why isn’t there any pressure? Look no further than Kirk Cousins’ performance this season. The 38-year-old veteran has been delivering, slinging the ball for 2,124 yards. He’s tossed 19 touchdowns against a mere five interceptions, completing an efficient 63.6 percent of his passes and only taking 11 sacks. Those are solid numbers! The Raiders are sitting at a respectable 4-4, putting them squarely in the mix for a potential playoff berth, even if five teams are currently ahead of them in the Wild Card hunt. When your veteran QB is putting up those kinds of stats and keeping you in the postseason conversation, there’s absolutely no reason to rush the future.
No Need to Panic After a Slump
Yeah, the Raiders did hit a four-game losing streak recently. If they were ever going to pull the trigger on a QB change, that would have been the moment. But Cousins wasn’t the main problem during those struggles. In fact, he just proved his worth in a huge way, throwing for 247 yards and three scores in their big 38-33 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. That performance sealed it: Cousins is “the guy” for the foreseeable future. The Raiders are chasing a playoff spot, their veteran QB is performing, and their No. 1 pick is getting crucial development time. It’s a win-win for now, ensuring Mendoza isn’t rushed while the team fights for every single victory.
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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