The week Raiders turn to Fernando Mendoza, according to NFL insider
Las Vegas drafted the former Heisman Trophy winner because they want him as their franchise quarterback
F ernando Mendoza entered the NFL with enormous expectations as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But unlike many recent top quarterback selections, the Las Vegas Raiders have resisted the temptation to throw their prized rookie directly into the spotlight.
According to NFL.com senior news writer Kevin Patra, that patience could last until the middle of the season. In his latest projection of when rookie quarterbacks might see the field in 2026, Patra predicted that Mendoza will make his first NFL start in Week 8 against the New York Jets, giving veteran Kirk Cousins the reins for the opening seven games of the season.
The decision reflects a growing belief within the Raiders organization that Mendoza’s long-term development is more important than rushing him into action before he is fully prepared. Las Vegas made its intentions clear throughout the offseason.
The club officially named Cousins the starter before the regular season, relegating Mendoza to the backup role despite his status as the top pick in the draft. That move made Fernando the first No. 1 overall selection not to start Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018 and only the third top overall quarterback drafted since 2008 to begin his rookie season on the bench, joining Mayfield and Jared Goff.
Why the Raiders are waiting
Mendoza showed flashes of the talent that made him the draft’s top prospect during preseason action. He displayed arm strength, confidence and a willingness to challenge defenses downfield. However, the former Indiana quarterback also experienced the growing pains that often accompany the transition from college football to the NFL.
In three preseason appearances, Mendoza completed 25 of 45 passes for 240 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He averaged 5.3 yards per attempt and absorbed four sacks while operating Klint Kubiak’s offense.
According to Patra, many of Mendoza’s struggles surfaced on under-center play-action concepts, an area that represented a significant adjustment from Indiana’s shotgun-heavy attack. While the rookie showed improvement throughout training camp and the preseason, there were enough inconsistencies to reinforce the Raiders’ belief that more development time could be beneficial.
A difficult stretch could accelerate the timeline
Although Week 8 is Patra’s official prediction, he acknowledged that circumstances could force the Raiders to move more quickly. Las Vegas faces one of its toughest stretches of the season between Weeks 4 and 7, with games against the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams.
If the Raiders struggle during that gauntlet and fall behind in the AFC playoff race, pressure could mount to turn to Mendoza sooner than expected. Patra suggested that a disappointing start, such as a 2-5 record, could compel Kubiak and the coaching staff to insert the rookie and allow him to gain valuable experience against NFL competition.
After all, there is only so much a young quarterback can learn from the sideline. Interestingly, Mendoza is not alone. For just the second time in the last 19 NFL seasons , no rookie quarterback is scheduled to start in Week 1. The previous occurrence came in 2022, when Kenny Pickett headlined a quarterback class that largely began the year behind veterans.
Every quarterback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft made his team's initial 53-man roster, underscoring how highly NFL teams value quarterback development. Yet most of those rookies are expected to spend significant time learning behind established starters before receiving their opportunity.
