Raiders’ Kirk Cousins minicamp update might be bad news for Fernando Mendoza

Who will start for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2026? That’s one of the burning questions surrounding the team this offseason. They drafted reigning Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, yes. However, they also signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had a solid end to the 2025 season. Who between the two quarterbacks will be starting in Week 1 for Vegas?

Well, it seems like Cousins might be in the lead right now in the quarterback race. The Raiders’ offseason activities are in full swing, and the veteran quarterback is apparently performing really well in practice. Vincent Bonsignore’s latest report notes that Cousins looks much healthier during their minicamp.

“One other thought about @Raiders minicamp: Very impressed by how healthy Kirk Cousins looks,” Bonsignore reports on X. “Far closer to Vikings Cousins than Falcons Cousins. You never know how things will play out, but whenever Fernando is ready, Cousins could be an attractive option for a contending team, should they need a QB at some point.”

The prevailing expectation from Raiders fans is that Mendoza will be sitting out a good portion of his rookie season, if not the entire year. While there have been success stories with quarterbacks starting in Year 1, many of the best quarterbacks in the league today started their careers from the bench. Mendoza might be talented, yes, but Las Vegas should set him up for success by letting him learn behind the scenes.

Starting Cousins could also benefit the Raiders. As Bonsignore notes in his report, a good season from Cousins will only make his trade value grow. A mid-season trade to a QB-needy team could net Las Vegas more draft assets while opening the door for either Mendoza to start midseason or for Aidan O’Connell to take over.

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