Las Vegas did exactly what it spent the offseason hinting it would do by naming Kirk Cousins its Week 1 starter. Vincent Bonsignore is fine with that part. What he does not want is for the Raiders to turn Fernando Mendoza’s rookie year into a season-long waiting exercise.
The California Post reporter argued that Las Vegas should resist copying the development paths associated with Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes simply because both eventually became all-time greats. Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, was drafted to become the franchise quarterback, and Bonsignore believes the Raiders need to give him meaningful snaps sooner rather than later.
Vincent Bonsignore Warns Raiders Against Overprotecting Fernando Mendoza
Bonsignore’s sharpest criticism was aimed at the possibility that Las Vegas could keep Mendoza on the sideline primarily out of fear that early mistakes might damage him.
“If the 38-yer-old Cousins discovers some late-career magic, the offense comes together faster than expected, and the Raiders remain legitimately involved in the playoff race, keep starting him. They need to ride that wave as far as it will carry them,” Bonsignore wrote in his California Post column. “But that is the only scenario in which Mendoza should spend his rookie season watching from the sideline. The moment the playoffs become a pipe dream, Mendoza needs to play.”
His point was not that Cousins should immediately lose the job. The Raiders officially named Cousins the 38-year-old starter Wednesday after a strong camp and preseason, with Klint Kubiak saying Cousins had “earned it.” Rather, Bonsignore argued that, barring an unexpected run from Cousins, Mendoza needs to play a substantial amount in 2026.
The timing question is complicated by Mendoza’s uneven preseason. He opened with a poised 10-of-16 performance for 97 yards and a touchdown against Arizona, then faced more turbulence against Houston and San Francisco. Kubiak acknowledged after the finale that rookies need reps even as regular-season practice opportunities shrink.
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“Brady spent his rookie season developing before getting his opportunity. Great. That was Brady’s story. It is not Fernando Mendoza’s – and NFL careers are not assembled from the same instruction manual,” he continued. “Brady arrived in New England as a sixth-round lottery ticket behind Drew Bledsoe, an established quarterback who had led the Patriots to a Super Bowl. Nobody expected Brady to compete for the job as a rookie.
“New England had invested almost nothing in him. That is two universes and an entire galaxy away from Mendoza’s situation… And you can miss me with the Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love comparisons.”
Bonsignore concluded by saying, “Sitting a young quarterback can help when an organization has an established starter, a competitive roster and a detailed plan. Sitting him because a veteran is the safer option in a season going nowhere is something else entirely. That is organizational fear masquerading as patience. The Raiders cannot be so afraid of Mendoza struggling that they prevent him from developing.”
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Mendoza’s college résumé is why the patience debate carries unusual weight. He threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions at Indiana in 2025, won the Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to a 16-0 national championship season.
Cousins Gives Raiders Time, Not an Excuse to Waste Mendoza’s Rookie Year
The case for Cousins is straightforward. He has 167 career starts, knows Kubiak’s offense, and completed 13-of-17 preseason passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. His 2025 PFN QB Impact grade was 73.1, No. 24 among qualifying quarterbacks, giving Las Vegas a credible bridge.
The Raiders also finished 3-14 last season before rebuilding the offensive line and coaching staff and selecting Mendoza first overall.
Brady is closely involved in Las Vegas’ football operation, but his path, as Bonsignore mentioned, is an awkward template for Mendoza. Brady entered the league as a sixth-round pick, while Mahomes was selected 10th overall and sat behind established playoff quarterback Alex Smith. Mendoza arrives with a completely different investment and mandate.
Las Vegas opens against Miami on Sept. 13 with Cousins under center. Bonsignore is not arguing that Mendoza must take that snap.
His warning is about what happens after it. Patience can help a young quarterback develop, but if the Raiders spend an entire season protecting the No. 1 pick from the experience he was drafted to gain, patience starts looking like something else.
