Las Vegas Raiders are finally giving Fernando Mendoza the keys, and it’s just as good a move for 2026 as it is for the future
The Las Vegas Raiders just traded Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings, meaning Fernando Mendoza now has the keys.
The Las Vegas Raiders shocked the NFL just hours before the trade deadline, with the story centered on Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza. Tom Pelissero reports that the Raiders are sending starting quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings.
In return, Las Vegas will get the Vikings’ 2027 third-round pick, while Minnesota keeps the 2027 third-round selection it previously got from the Eagles. This is a major development for the Raiders and the league, as rookie quarterback and top draft pick Fernando Mendoza now steps in as the starter.
Plus, the Raiders gain a draft pick after previously being without one for the next draft. Mendoza is the future of this team, but somehow this move is just as good for 2026 as it is for the future.
The Raiders are 4- 5, and with the Seattle Seahawks coming up on the schedule, they could easily be 4-6 this time next week. But Mendoza gives them a better chance to win every week from here on out. That’s not to say Cousins was bad; he was playing elite football before this past week. But Cousins had to overcompensate and overplay everything simply because of how this team is constructed.
Fernando Mendoza as the Raiders starter makes this team better
Mendoza will throw the ball downfield more than Cousins will, simply because he has a stronger arm. The Raiders rank tenth in the league in Average Throw Depth at eight yards per attempt, while the league leader sits at 9.4, per Sports Info Solutions. They’ll need to test that to stretch the field more and draw defenders out of the box to open up the run game.
Then, Mendoza brings legs to this offense. Is Mendoza Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, or even Patrick Mahomes when it comes to mobility? Absolutely not. However, he can move in the pocket and buy a bit more time than 38-year-old Cousins can.
Mendoza isn’t fast by any means, but his footwork in the pocket is certainly quicker, even though he still has things to clean up. The Raiders are better off making this move now. This move actually increases their playoff chances.
