The Las Vegas Raiders have named veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins the Week 1 starting quarterback over No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza.
Let’s look at the key aspects of this decision:Not a surprise:
This has been the expected outcome for months. The Raiders had a plan and this was it. That’s why Cousins, 38, was signed. They wanted a veteran to help bring along Mendoza and Cousins is perfect. The fact that he played under new Raiders’ coach Klint Kubiak just made this an ideal fit. Kubiak, general
manager John Spytek and part owner Tom Brady all wanted to have Mendoza on the bench to start the season. Cousins made that plan easy with a strong training camp. This was, in the end, an easy decision.
How long will Cousins play?
Well, it’s up to Cousins. If he plays well and the Raiders win, he will keep the job as deep into the season as possible. But if the Raiders go on a losing skid, Mendoza will hover. Also, it could be a matter of Cousins’ health. The 15-season veteran hasn’t played a full season since 2022, so his health could be a factor.
Key for Mendoza now:
As Kubiak recently said, Mendoza must get as many reps as possible. Of course, that will be difficult during the season as the starters get most of the practice reps. But Mendoza must work early and late in the day with quarterback coach Mike Sullivan to get as prepared as possible to make his NFL debut.
Is there a perfect time for Mendoza to play?
There are different theories. There has been some speculation the Raiders could wait until after their December bye and to get away from a stretch of tough defenses. I think the reality is it’s a fluid situation. It will depends on Cousins’ performance and health, the team’s record and Mendoza’s readiness. So, I we’re think it will be something the team evaluates on a weekly basis and the production and the health of the offensive line will also playa role. Mendoza will not be thrown t0 the wolves behind a broken line.
Will Mendoza start season as No. 2 or No. 3?
This week, ESPN reported Aidan O’Connell could start the season as Cousins’ backup, making Mendoza the emergency quarterback to start the season. The report stated it would be part of Mendoza’s process. We probably won’t know the answer to this until the inactives are announced before the Miami game on September 13.
NFL trend bucked:
The last six quarterbacks drafted No. 1 overall were Week 1 starters as rookies. The last quarterback picked first not open the season as the starter when Baker Mayfield in Cleveland in 2018. He first played in Week 3 and made his first start in Week 4 against the Raiders.
