The Las Vegas Raiders did not plan to trade Kirk Cousins. General manager John Spytek said he didn't shop the veteran quarterback and only engaged after Minnesota called Tuesday morning, then sent him to the Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick.
The move also ends the waiting game for Fernando Mendoza. The No. 1 overall pick will make his first career start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, and Spytek said Mendoza “passed every test.” Las Vegas is 4-5 after opening 3-0 and losing five of its last six, so the timing is awkward but defensible.
Raiders Trade Grade: A-
An A- is fair for this deal. The Raiders got real value for a player they signed to hold a seat, and they moved Mendoza into the lineup while the season is still alive.
The return is the first big positive. Cousins gave Las Vegas 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine starts, and the team paid him just $650,000 in total. A third-round pick for what amounts to a minimum-salary rental is a great outcome. Spytek's group also structured the deal so Cousins was fully tradable, which made this exit possible.
The mentorship matters too. Cousins was open all year about the limited nature of his role, and he spent months helping Mendoza prepare behind the scenes. Coach Klint Kubiak said Cousins' influence will remain with the rookie for the rest of the season. That is a real benefit, even if it is hard to put in a box score.
Cousins' play also helped the market. He ranked ninth in EPA per dropback and 11th in passer rating among 31 qualifying quarterbacks. That made him a legitimate asset for a Vikings team that needed a fix immediately. At the same time, the film showed limits. He went 6-for-25 on deep throws, with three touchdowns and two interceptions, and finished his Raiders run with a three-interception loss to the 49ers. Moving on while his value was high was smart.
The negatives keep this from an A. Mendoza has thrown only eight regular-season passes, and his first assignment is the defending champion Seahawks, who have been especially tough on rookie quarterbacks. After that, Las Vegas faces Denver and Cleveland, all three teams that rank among the 13 best defenses in points allowed. Growing pains are likely, and Kubiak acknowledged ups and downs will come.
There is also a question about the pick. Minnesota owns two 2027 third-rounders, and the Raiders accepted the Vikings' own selection rather than the higher one acquired from Philadelphia. The Eagles are 2-7, so that pick should land considerably earlier. Spytek could have waited for more, although the deadline put him in a position to take what Minnesota was offering.
Still, the upside is strong. Mendoza offers mobility and rollout ability that Cousins couldn't provide, and Kubiak's system relies on bootlegs and movement. The rookie also arrives with a Heisman, a national title and 41 touchdown passes at Indiana.
Spytek said the Raiders are not “punting” on the season, and that is the right message. Las Vegas turned a veteran stopgap into a third-round pick, preserved its roster flexibility and started the Mendoza era without wasting another month. The risk is the learning curve, but the process was strong.