Fernando Mendoza could be benched until Week 14 as Klint Kubiak shares verdict on Raiders QB
Fernando Mendoza might be the No. 1 pick, but there’s no guarantee he walks into the starting quarterback role with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Heisman Trophy winner, who led the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated championship season in 2025, could have the opportunity to learn behind a veteran instead.
Las Vegas signed Kirk Cousins to a five-year, $172 million contract ahead last month’s NFL Draft, before making Mendoza the top pick.
New head coach Klint Kubiak noted back in March that he doesn’t believe a rookie, regardless of who they are, needs to start in Week 1.
“Ideally, you don’t want him to start from Day 1,” the Raiders HC explained.
“We’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody… That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day 1, and it’s our job as a coach to get them ready to go.”
Kubiak, it seems, will get his wish thanks to the arrival of Cousins — and has this week dropped a hint on how the depth chart is shaping up.
Klint Kubiak ‘pleased’ as Raiders QBs put in offseason work
Alongside Cousins and Mendoza, Aidan O’Connell is also in the quarterback room, with a hope of seeing the field in 2026.
Kubiak noted Wednesday that the 2023 fourth-round draft pick has been ‘phenomenal’ so far.
“(Offensive coordinator Andrew) Janocko and (quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan) do a great job in that room,” he told reporters.
“(Mendoza and Cousins are) two really competitive guys. Been really pleased with their work ethic.
“Aidan has been phenomenal. Can’t say enough great things about him.”
Kubiak was also pressed on what he’s seen from Mendoza so far.
“I think anything that you put in front of him, he’s going to attack it,” he explained.
“So anything that’s new, he spends extra time on it. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next. He’s very coachable. And that could be said for all those quarterbacks in the room.”
Discussing Mendoza’s first month with the Raiders, Kubiak added: “As advertised.
“He’s not disappointed. He’s working his tail off. It’s very important to him, and he asks a lot of great questions. When he gets on the field, it’s no BS. He’s all ball.”
Mendoza, clearly, is making an impression.
But Kubiak might still prefer to lean on Cousins to open the season — and if that is the case, a tough schedule could mean Mendoza doesn’t get his shot until December.
NFL insider reveals why Fernando Mendoza could be benched until Week 14
Four of the five games that Las Vegas play in November come on the road, at the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns.
The only home game they have is right in the middle of that gauntlet, against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
That’s a tough run for any team, let alone one that hopes to give their rookie quarterback a shot.
Given that schedule, ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Cousins will be the go-to guy, and that Mendoza might not see the field until mid December.
“The Las Vegas Raiders… zero prime time games,” he said, speaking to Dan Stanczyk on his podcast.
“And I asked somebody in the organization, ‘What stands out about your schedule?’ And they said, ‘Four road games in November.’
“Four road games in November for the Las Vegas Raiders. So, I think they’re going to want Kirk Cousins to start the season.
“And if you’re going to want to turn to Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick at some point in time, I don’t know that you’re going to want to do it in November when you have to go play four road games.
“That’s not a great time to have to go to your rookie quarterback, if they haven’t gone to him by then.
“So, we could be seeing Kirk Cousins up until December.”
After the Raiders run that November gauntlet, they have a Week 13 bye, before returning to action at home against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 13.
If Mendoza doesn’t see early-season action, fans might need to start circling that date on their calendars for a potential long-awaited debut.
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