Fernando Mendoza decision made? Insider drops bombshell on Raiders quarterback situation

Expectations for the Las Vegas Raiders before the season weren't high, and for good reason: the team finished 2025 as the worst in the NFL .

The silver lining of such a rough season was the No. 1 pick in the draft , which was used on quarterback Fernando Mendoza . Even so, the franchise signed Kirk Cousins and handed him the starting job from the beginning.

The decision raised doubts among fans and analysts, but for now nobody is questioning it. The Raiders are 3-0, and Cousins is tied for the NFL lead with nine touchdown passes. With that performance, Mendoza's debut as a starter looks far off.

However, the season is just beginning. ESPN's Dan Graziano believes it's an "overreaction" to think Mendoza won't play all year.

"This is a really fun story, but are you banking on it lasting? The Raiders' next four opponents are the Chiefs, Patriots, Bills and Rams," Graziano wrote. "Las Vegas might turn out to be one of this season's surprise teams, and the future certainly looks bright around Mendoza whenever he does get in there. But no one really expects him to sit for the whole year unless the Raiders just keep winning and stay in first place. And that's going to be a lot tougher than what they've accomplished so far.

"We'll see Mendoza at some point this season. It just won't be as soon as most people imagined it would be. Good on Cousins, Klint Kubiak and the whole Raiders organization for that."

How can Kirk Cousins keep the starting job?

After Week 1 , it looked like Cousins could no longer throw deep, but that impression disappeared over the next two games, in which he connected on several long passes.

The main criticism of him has always been his limited mobility. At 38, and having never stood out for his athleticism, he is far from what Mendoza can offer: younger, stronger and faster.

But today that doesn't seem to matter. Everything indicates the Raiders want Mendoza to spend his rookie year learning from the bench, and as long as Cousins maintains his current level, that decision will be easy to sustain.

It's not realistic to expect three touchdowns every week, but if Las Vegas keeps winning and the offense keeps working under his leadership, there will be no reason to change quarterbacks.

Would it be bad for Mendoza to spend his entire rookie year on the bench?

Not necessarily. Quarterbacks taken with the No. 1 overall pick usually become starters right away. The last passer taken first overall who didn't play a single game as a rookie was Carson Palmer in 2003 .

Normally, teams that pick first urgently need a quarterback, which is why they accelerate his development. In Palmer's case, waiting a year turned out to be beneficial, and he later built a solid career in the NFL .

For that reason, not playing all season wouldn't be a negative for Mendoza either. He would have time to learn the system, adapt to the NFL's pace and prepare for the pressure of being a quarterback in the league.

The Raiders will most likely give him snaps at some point this year, but for now there's no rush.