For only the second time in nearly two decades, the NFL is kicking off its season without a single rookie quarterback under center in Week 1. This is a massive curveball after years of top draft picks getting the keys to the offense right out of the gate, and it’s definitely something to talk about in the league.
Top Rookies Are Riding The Pine, And It’s A Rarity
Seriously, this is wild. The Las Vegas Raiders, they took Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, right? And what do they do? They stash him on the bench behind Kirk Cousins. Mendoza is the first top pick at QB to start his career on the sidelines since Baker Mayfield back in 2018. Think about that: the last six No. 1 overall signal-callers all started Week 1. It shows how much things are shifting. It’s not just Mendoza either. Ty Simpson, the No. 13 pick by the Los Angeles Rams, he’s also starting the season as a reserve. This duo makes it a super rare occurrence, something we only saw once before in the last 19 seasons, in 2022 when Kenny Pickett was the lone first-round QB taken at 20th overall.
A Throwback To The Old Ways, And The Raiders’ Bizarre Streak
This is a significant shift from recent NFL trends. In three of the previous five seasons, we had three rookie quarterbacks starting the opener. Teams have been super quick to throw young guys into the fire, especially No. 1 picks, because the gap between college and pro ball felt like it was shrinking. But now? Mendoza is the 30th quarterback taken first overall since 1967. Usually, these guys jump straight into it: 20 of those 30 started their rookie opener, with all but Carson Palmer in 2003 making at least one start in their first year. Palmer didn’t play at all. Guys like Tim Couch, Baker Mayfield, and Alex Smith made debuts by Game 5. Even JaMarcus Russell, No. 1 pick in 2007 by the Raiders, who held out that summer and didn’t sign a contract until after the opener, eventually got his start, in the final game.
And speaking of the Raiders, they are pulling off their own bizarre streak: this year, with Klint Kubiak as head coach and Kirk Cousins at quarterback, they tie a record. It’s different head coach AND different starting QB for the opener in four straight seasons! That run started in 2023 (Josh McDaniels, Jimmy Garoppolo), continued in 2024 (Antonio Pierce, Gardner Minshew), and 2025 (Pete Carroll, Geno Smith). Only the Houston Texans from 2020 to 2023 did that too. Wild, right?
So, what does this all mean for Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson? It means their rookie campaigns are kicking off with a delay, a rarity for top talent. The big question is whether they follow the Baker Mayfield path, coming off the bench early, or more like Carson Palmer, who sat his entire rookie year. The league has clearly pumped the brakes on rushing these top prospects onto the field for Week 1. It will be fascinating to watch how these situations unfold for both the Raiders and the Rams as the season progresses.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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