The Las Vegas Raiders went all in and snagged Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. You’d think that makes him the Week 1 starter, right? Not so fast. Even with that top pick prestige, the Raiders aren’t just handing him the keys to the offense right out of the gate. They brought in veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, giving them a real option to play the long game with Mendoza if they want.
The Veteran Safety Net
This isn’t about Cousins stopping Mendoza. No way. This is about taking the immediate pressure off a rookie who’s got the weight of the No. 1 pick on his shoulders. ESPN’s Ben Solak summed it up perfectly when he wrote that the Raiders have “done well to keep early expectations for Mendoza tempered.” That’s smart football, plain and simple. Having Cousins in the building gives them a veteran presence, a safety net. It means they don’t *have* to throw Mendoza into the fire if he’s not absolutely ready. It’s a luxury most teams with a top pick don’t get, and it shows the Raiders are thinking beyond just the first game.
Earning His Shot
But don’t get it twisted, Mendoza still has a fair shot to win that Week 1 starting job. Solak made it clear: if Mendoza is “shredding during camp and adept in the meeting rooms behind closed doors,” then sitting him would be a mistake. You can’t delay the “inevitable hiccups and growing pains” young players face. The early plan is to limit Mendoza’s first-team reps, with Cousins likely getting the majority in the first week of camp. However, that number for Mendoza “could increase by the end of August,” Solak notes. It’s on Mendoza to seize those opportunities and prove he’s the guy. Can he show enough in limited reps to force the coaches’ hand? That’s the challenge.
Playing the Long Game
Look, the Raiders would absolutely love for Mendoza to win that job and lock it down for the next decade. Who wouldn’t want their No. 1 pick to be a franchise savior right away? But they understand the big picture. The long haul is way more important than just Week 1. If this rookie needs a little extra time to get totally prepped and ready for the grind of an NFL season, they are going to give it to him. If he doesn’t win the job immediately, the Raiders have already “done an excellent job laying the groundwork to claim that starting Cousins was the plan all along.” It’s a calculated move to protect their biggest investment and ensure he’s set up for sustained success.
So, as camp heats up, all eyes will be on Mendoza. Can he impress enough to flip that reps split? Can he show the Raiders he’s not just ready for Week 1, but for the next ten years? We’ll find out soon enough. It’s going to be one heck of a competition to watch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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