Former 13-year backup QB reveals why Fernando Mendoza may still be the starter despite Kirk Cousins joining the team
The Las Vegas Raiders are currently in a situation where they will eventually have to decide between Mendoza and Cousins as their starting quarterback.
The Las Vegas Raiders will have an important decision to make before Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. And, the timer on that decision officially starts this upcoming Thursday, when the 2026 NFL Draft kicks off.
We all know the Raiders are likely going to draft former Indiana Hoosiers QB, Fernando Mendoza. However, are they going to make him the Week 1 starter in his rookie season? A month ago, I would have said yes. My reasoning would have been that they just spent a No. 1 overall pick on him, so why wouldn’t they? But then they signed Kirk Cousins, and now my reasoning has changed, considering he is the perfect mentor. That seems to be the way everyone is thinking, too.
But, former 13-year backup quarterback, Chase Daniel, has a different mindset about it all.
Chase Daniel thinks Mendoza should still be the starter over Cousins
“I don’t think there’s any way that you draft Fernando Mendoza number one overall and then Kirk Cousins plays,” Daniel said on his podcast. “This is purely for a high-character, high-IQ quarterback room to help the growth of Fernando Mendoza. And they are one and the same. Like, he’s one of the guys that I’m like—when you break Mendoza down, you’re like, ‘Okay, I can see some Kirk Cousins.’ He has a much stronger arm at that point coming out than Kirk Cousins was as a fourth-round pick, but you can also see just all the traits in them.
“And I do really like this because that was that guy, right? I was that guy for so many years as a backup quarterback. It’s like, ‘Hey, not only are you trying to help the team,’ when obviously if your number gets called, you want to play well. You have two quarterbacks that can play in this league because one’s done—you see him get hurt, and many times the season is over. But, he’s also going to help, like What can I do to help Fernando and Klint Kubiak as a first-time head coach?’ All of these things go into it.”
Daniel makes great points, and while a large portion of the fan base would love to see Mendoza Week 1, that just doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen.
Early in the pre-draft process, head coach Klint Kubiak stated he prefers a veteran quarterback play over a rookie quarterback. That was before the Raiders signed 37-year-old QB Kirk Cousins. Now General Manager John Spytek is doubling down on the same ideology. So, they probably believe Cousins should start. And, if he does, that’s fine. Cousins can still win games.
Cousins, even after starting as a backup in Atlanta in 2025 and playing 10 games, performed well in advanced metrics. For instance, he posted an 89.5% Catchable Ball Percentage (seventh-best among players with 100+ attempts) and a 78.1% On Target Percentage (sixth-best), demonstrating strong accuracy. Cousins is still an accurate thrower. So, they could be fine with him still.
