Raiders’ new QB Kirk Cousins says what needs to be said about the situation he’s about to be in with Fernando Mendoza
The Las Vegas Raiders needed a veteran quarterback to work with their future rookie QB, Fernando Mendoza, and it appears they got the right guy.
The Las Vegas Raiders added a veteran quarterback for their yet-to-be-drafted rookie. While the rookie isn’t here yet, Kirk Cousins will mentor Fernando Mendoza when he arrives in Las Vegas.
And honestly, there couldn’t be a better match. There couldn’t be a better mentor for Mendoza, as the two of them have similar play styles, personalities, and even spiritual beliefs. Cousins will be a great addition for the Raiders, and kind of the Alex Smith to the Raiders’ Patrick Mahomes, if that makes sense. But let’s not get the main thing here lost—Mendoza is the franchise guy to take over this team when it’s his time. And, hey, if he’s better than Cousins right away, that’s who will play. Cousins knows that, too.
Kirk Cousins wants the best QB to play for the Raiders
“Honestly, I don’t want to start unless I’m the best option,” Cousins said on NFL Network. “So I told you know, Klint, that the best players should play, certainly as long as that’s the case, I have no qualms with however it plays out. But I do think Fernando will be a great addition to our team. I think he’s going to have a great future in the league. I have no problem being a voice in the room to kind of help him to the degree that I can.
“He’s gonna have great support all around and from the coaching staff. I think that can be a great asset for him. He was here yesterday on the draft-day visit. We were able to watch a film together. I think he’ll be a great addition to the room. And I was even telling him how much success he had throwing back-shoulder passes at IU, and I’d like to learn a little bit from him on how to throw a good back-shoulder. We’ll all be helping each other.”
The Raiders have their veteran QB, and Cousins can still perform at a high level. He played only 10 games with 284 dropbacks in 2025, starting as the backup while Atlanta faced injuries. Some advanced stats show he was solid—better than Geno Smith.
Of players with at least 100 pass attempts last season, Cousins had the seventh-best Catchable Ball Percentage at 89.5%, meaning that percentage of the balls he threw were catchable, or accurate. He also had the sixth-best On Target Percentage at 78.1%, per Sports Info Solutions.
Cousins remains accurate; now it’s about being in the right system, calling the right plays, and having strong support. He already knows Kubiak from their time in Minnesota in 2023, which ensures familiarity. The Raiders got the two QBs they wanted, and Cousins has shown he’s committed to helping Mendoza.
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