RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The Las Vegas Raiders used the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to finally land their franchise quarterback, Fernando Mendoza.
But unlike other No. 1 overall quarterbacks, like Cam Ward and Caleb Williams, Mendoza isn't guaranteed to open the season as the Raiders' starter.
Head coach Klint Kubiak announced that 38-year-old Kirk Cousins will be the starting quarterback over Mendoza to begin training camp. "When we go out to practice, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback ... He's the guy, and he deserves it because he's played really good football," Kubiak said .
The decision wasn't entirely a surprise. Vegas signed Cousins in April to a five-year, $172 million deal, and he took the majority of the first-team reps throughout the offseason program. But it's still unusual given the high draft capital invested in Mendoza.
Mendoza addressed Kubiak's decision on Thursday. "Whatever decisions are made at the end, that's fantastic, and I'm well for it," Mendoza said . "I just want the team to win, so that's where I'm at."
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What makes the situation in Vegas even more interesting is that the whole operation is being run by arguably the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady. Brady is a minority owner in the franchise and has been directly involved in everything from draft evaluations to personnel decisions and football operations.
Brady reportedly had a hand in the Raiders' decision to sit Mendoza and hand the keys over to the veteran Cousins.
Mendoza has stayed even-keeled throughout the process — exactly the kind of professionalism you want from a franchise quarterback. Still, Raiders fans understandably want to see their top pick in action sooner rather than later.
Kubiak has left the door open for things to change ahead of Week 1. If Mendoza starts outperforming Cousins in camp, reps between the two could begin shifting more in favor of last year's Heisman Trophy winner.
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