Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak pulls back the curtain on a philosophy that may make some of the fan base upset
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to draft Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall, but there are questions now on whether he would start right away, or if a veteran QB would.
The Las Vegas Raiders hold the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and are poised to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to finally address their long-standing need for a franchise quarterback.
A topic that may frustrate fans is spending the No. 1 pick on a player who might not play right away, even though he is healthy. This often happens with rookie quarterbacks—teams can be cautious, not wanting to risk confidence issues. However, fans want to see their new quarterback immediately. New head coach Klint Kubiak explained his philosophy.
Klint Kubiak would prefer the Raiders’ rookie QB to sit behind a veteran.
“I think in a perfect world, he’s watching a mature adult run an offense and team,” Kubiak told reporters at the NFL Owners Meeting on Tuesday when asked about a rookie QB starting right away. “But you may have that veteran, you may not. You’d rather him learn before he gets in the game, but you don’t always get to pick… Ideally, you don’t want him to start from day one, but that’s a perfect world. Sometimes they have to start from day one.”
The Raiders value having a veteran in the building, no matter their path. It seems they want Fernando to sit initially until he’s ready, but either way, a veteran quarterback is a must. Should they pursue one in free agency? Rumors mention names like Kirk Cousins, who is similar to Mendoza and still has some upside.
Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, and Tyrod Taylor are currently the other veteran options at quarterback, assuming Rodgers doesn’t retire. Another possibility is making Aidan O’Connell—already on the roster—the Raiders’ “veteran QB.” He wouldn’t require additional salary and has started many games. O’Connell shares personality traits and play styles with Mendoza.
Regardless of their decision, the Raiders do need a reliable backup. Mendoza is their choice, but it’s unclear whether he’ll start immediately.
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