The Las Vegas Raiders are making sure that they cover their quarterback bases this offseason. They have been projected to draft recent Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, that did not stop them from signing Kirk Cousins to a five-year, $172 million contract after the Atlanta Falcons announced they planned to release him. This has only fueled the debate about who will be under center during Week 1.
Will Fernando Mendoza or Kirk Cousins Start for the Raiders? Rich Eisen Weighs In
On a recent episode of “The Rich Eisen Show,” analyst Rich Eisen was asked if he thinks the Raiders will start Mendoza or Cousins.
Eisen said the Raiders will likely play their cards close to the vest. They have a “process,” according to Eisen, of seeing exactly what it is they have in both quarterbacks.
He noted that when they had former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on the show, he said that no quarterback should start in the NFL until they have mastered protecting themselves on third down. They need to see if Mendoza has this ability at the professional level.
“So until they get him in the building and work him through the paces and see what they have and go through training camp and go through even a preseason game, they’re just not going to make the decision. And they got Kirk Cousins there for a reason to allow them the studio space to explore this decision without a demand to start him needing to be met because he’s the first overall pick, and they don’t have any other choices,” said Eisen.
Eisen added that he recognizes there are lots of exceptions to the rule, like Kurt Warner and Tom Brady, but you cannot count on that. Yet, it remains to be seen if Mendoza, who ranked second in 2025 out of all college quarterbacks according to PFSN’s QB Impact metric, has what it takes to play in the pros.
“If there is a competition, there is no way he beats out a 14-year veteran. And I don’t care how you feel about Kirk Cousins. Not a chance. Not a chance,” insisted Eisen. “There’s just no way a kid who’s never played a snap in the NFL is going ot have the same neckup ability as the 14-year veteran in the league. I know people love harping on Kirk Cousins, prime time games, playoffs, whatever. There’s no chance that a guy who’s had all these 400-yard games and 500-yard contests and you see how he can light it up.”
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For the Raiders, bringing in Cousins isn’t a slight against their No. 1 pick; it’s an insurance policy that affords them the luxury of patience. While fans may be clamoring for the Heisman winner to usher in a new era immediately, Eisen’s point remains clear: the mental processing and sheer experience of a 14-year veteran are virtually impossible for a rookie to beat out in Year 1.
Las Vegas can now head into training camp knowing they have a reliable floor under center, giving Mendoza the time he needs to truly prepare for the NFL stage.
