Kirk Cousins’ value is more than what Las Vegas Raiders fans may think it is heading into the 2026 season
The Las Vegas Raiders are heading into training camp on Wednesday, and Kirk Cousins is going to be the starter right away.
The Las Vegas Raiders open training camp Wednesday with a settled quarterback depth chart, at least for now. Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed that Kirk Cousins will take first-team reps as the starter, putting to rest any speculation about an open competition between Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza heading into the 2026 season.
Kubiak also dropped a few comments that reveal how Las Vegas views its quarterback room long-term.
Kubiak’s message on Cousins’ value
Kubiak made it clear that Cousins wasn’t brought to Las Vegas just to babysit the No. 1 pick. He framed the veteran’s presence in terms of production first, leadership second.
“His value as a player on our team is the most important thing,” Kubiak said. “We brought him here to play really good football, and the mentorship is just a byproduct of that. They’re here to play good football.”
That distinction matters. The Raiders believe Cousins can still win games, not simply hold a clipboard and teach Mendoza the playbook. The mentorship angle is real, and by all accounts the relationship between Cousins and Mendoza has been strong in the short time they’ve been together. But Kubiak wants the football world to know this is a performance-based decision.
Cousins can still play
Cousins proved he could still be effective last season in Atlanta, even as a backup working his way back from a torn Achilles. He appeared in 10 games and put up numbers that suggest he was far from finished. He posted an 89.5% catchable-ball completion percentage, 7th best among quarterbacks with 100-plus attempts. His 78.1% on-target percentage ranked 6th.
The Falcons didn’t win many games, and Cousins had rough stretches, but the accuracy was there despite a supporting cast that didn’t give him much help. Cousins has also said he feels healthy heading into camp, which is significant for a player who dealt with the lingering effects of a major lower-body injury throughout last season.
Kubiak leaves the door open for change
Kubiak also noted that quarterback reps will rotate throughout camp. All three quarterbacks, including Aidan O’Connell, will work with the first team, the second team, and the third team at various points. That’s standard operating procedure, but Kubiak added a layer to it by saying that the Week 1 starter won’t necessarily be the Week 17 starter. That could mean anything from injuries to performance-based changes, but it signals that the Raiders aren’t locking themselves into a rigid plan.
The reality is that Mendoza is the future. He was the No. 1 pick in the draft, and fans are eager to see him on the field. But the Raiders aren’t going to rush him into action if he isn’t ready. Cousins has been thrown into difficult situations before and come out the other side. Mendoza hasn’t, and the organization would rather protect him from that kind of trial by fire early in his career.
The Raiders’ quarterback room is loaded
When you look at the full picture, Las Vegas might have one of the best quarterback rooms in the league. Cousins is a proven veteran who can start and win. Mendoza is a franchise-caliber prospect with a high ceiling. O’Connell has started 17 games in the NFL and serves as a capable third option. That kind of depth gives Kubiak and the coaching staff flexibility they haven’t had in years.
The Raiders are a much better team than they were a year ago, which only strengthens the argument for patience with Mendoza. If Cousins has to carry the load for a few weeks, the roster around him is good enough to compete. Kubiak genuinely believes Cousins can play winning football, and that belief goes beyond the mentorship narrative that has dominated the offseason conversation. Las Vegas is banking on production from its veteran quarterback, and everything Kubiak said Wednesday reinforced that.