Fernando Mendoza could still get even worse Raiders news nobody expected
The No. 1 pick could begin his NFL career as Las Vegas' third quarterback.
Fernando Mendoza's difficult start with the Las Vegas Raiders could take another unexpected turn, with head coach Klint Kubiak refusing to guarantee that the first overall pick will even begin the season as the team's No. 2 quarterback.
Kirk Cousins is widely expected to start, but Mendoza is still competing with Aidan O'Connell for the backup role.
That leaves open the surprising possibility that one of the most prominent rookies in the 2026 NFL Draft could begin his professional career third on the depth chart.
Klint Kubiak refuses to guarantee Mendoza QB2 role
Kubiak was directly asked whether Mendoza or O'Connell would serve as the backup if Cousins opens the season as Las Vegas' starter.
“We’ve got three guys that are ready to play. It’s going to be some hard decisions on who’s 1, who’s 2. That’s not a decision we have to make today, but those are discussions that are ongoing,” Kubiak said.
The answer offered Mendoza no guarantees despite the enormous investment the Raiders made when selecting him with the first pick of the draft.
It would be highly unusual for a No. 1 overall quarterback to begin his rookie season as QB3, particularly when first picks are normally expected to either start immediately or sit directly behind an experienced veteran.
Mendoza could face longer wait than expected
The Raiders appear in no rush to put Mendoza on the field.
If Cousins takes the starting job and O'Connell is ultimately selected as his primary backup, Mendoza could remain on the sideline even if Las Vegas needs to make a quarterback change early in the season.
Kubiak's comments make clear that the hierarchy hasn't yet been finalized.
That creates another layer of uncertainty for Mendoza as his rookie season approaches.
Being asked to sit behind a veteran such as Cousins would already require patience from the first overall pick. Falling behind O'Connell as well would represent an even more surprising beginning.
For now, Mendoza hasn't officially been named QB3.
But Kubiak has made one thing clear: his draft status alone won't guarantee him the backup job.
