What the Las Vegas Raiders are now saying internally about Fernando Mendoza

The Las Vegas Raiders are sticking with Kirk Cousins at quarterback despite their form coming off the boil after their electric start to the 2026 season. Klint Kubiak’s team were able to get back to winning ways last weekend against the New York Jets. However, against some of the league’s top teams, like the Kansas City Chiefs, Cousins has failed to get the Raiders over the line. The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick earlier in the year, but the rookie has not yet started a game in the NFL. He did, however, come on against the New England Patriots, where he completed six of his eight attempted passes. As Mendoza continues to learn from the sideline, the overwhelming feeling from inside the Raiders’ facility has been shared. How the Las Vegas Raiders really feel about Fernando Mendoza Having used their first overall pick to land Mendoza , it is apparent that the Raiders have a long-term plan for the rookie quarterback. Cousins has provided Kubiak with some certainty despite the run of four defeats in recent weeks. “The Raiders have been so deliberate and so detailed with their plan for bringing Fernando Mendoza along, which, by the way, they think he’s going to be a star,” said Albert Breer on The Ryen Russillo Show. https://open.spotify.com/embed?uri=spotify%3Aepisode%3A6HEFhN2FC0zjnen5OIGQQn “I do think eventually, we’ll see Mendoza. I wouldn’t rule out the idea that you could trade Cousins. I just think there’s a lot of complicating factors that would go into that decision, and it would have to be something pretty good coming back.” The Raiders are in a comfortable position, but their hopes of the playoffs have certainly taken a beating over recent weeks after losing four straight games prior to the win over the Jets. Whether having Mendoza starting in those games would have made any difference remains a complete unknown. However, there are clearly a lot of people, like Russillo, who do feel that the rookie could have learned a lot from being involved in these games instead of watching from the sideline. ‘Isn’t going to last…’ – NFL fans are frustrated after NY Giants’ Cam Skattebo update Richard Sherman reveals his NFL MVP for the 26/27 season so far New England Patriots star confirms he has been ruled out with ‘unexplainable’ medical emergency