The NFL went nine weeks without a drafted rookie quarterback starting a game. Now two are scheduled to make their first starts at the same time.

The Las Vegas Raiders named No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza their starter after announcing a trade that sends Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick. The Arizona Cardinals turned to rookie QB Carson Beck after trading Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens and placing Gardner Minshew on injured reserve.

Las Vegas hosts the Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona hosts the Los Angeles Rams. Both games are scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday.

Cousins started all nine games for the Raiders. That gave Las Vegas time to develop Mendoza behind a veteran. It also left the rest of us without the one piece of evidence that actually matters: how Mendoza handles an NFL game as the starter. Seattle is a tough first assignment, even at home. I’m more interested in whether Mendoza looks in command of the offense than whether his first start ends in a win.

What the Tom Brady draft class tells us about the wait

The historical comparison that sent me down this rabbit hole was the 2000 draft class. Chad Pennington was the first quarterback selected that year. Tom Brady went in the sixth round. The rookie who actually got a start that season was Cleveland Browns QB Spergon Wynn, who started against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14.

Week 14. That’s the part worth keeping from the original Mendoza conversation. The 2026 class won’t come close if either scheduled starter takes the field Sunday. But getting through nine weeks without a drafted rookie QB start was already worth noticing. The wait doesn’t tell us how good this class will be, either.

Brady’s draft class is a pretty good reminder of that. Nobody was handing that group a grade in November. What matters now is what the Raiders and Cardinals learn once they finally give their rookies the ball.

Raiders could get even better with Fernando Mendoza as the starter, as early as this season

The Raiders are in a good position to actually improve now under Mendoza, too. That isn’t to say Cousins was underperforming—he played at a high level until last week. However, the way the roster is built meant he often had to take on extra responsibility. With Mendoza under center, expect more deep throws thanks to his stronger arm.

The Raiders currently rank tenth in the NFL in average throw depth at eight yards per attempt, while the top team reaches 9.4, according to Sports Info Solutions. To improve their offense, they’ll need to challenge defenses vertically and force defenders out of the box, which could also create more opportunities for their running game.

Mendoza also adds more mobility to the offense. While he isn’t on the level of Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, or even Patrick Mahomes in terms of movement, he offers better pocket mobility than the 38-year-old Cousins, allowing him to extend plays.

Though Mendoza isn’t particularly speedy, his footwork in the pocket is noticeably quicker—though there’s still room for improvement. Making the switch now benefits the Raiders and could actually boost their playoff hopes.