Raiders name Kirk Cousins as Week 1 starting quarterback, Fernando Mendoza will begin career as backup

Mendoza-Mania will not be coming to Las Vegas just yet.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that the team is naming Kirk Cousins its Week 1 starting quarterback against the Miami Dolphins, meaning Fernando Mendoza will begin his career as a backup.

"(Cousins has) played really good football, I’m really happy with all three of (the) quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp, and he’s earned it," Kubiak told reporters.

When asked if he expects Mendoza to play at all this year, Kubiak deflected the question and said the team is focused on the Dolphins.

Raiders general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady have been advocates about letting a rookie develop behind a veteran quarterback, which makes the team's decision to roll with Cousins unsurprising.

Spytek said Mendoza has shown the team everything it learned about him in the draft process when talking to reporters Tuesday.

"He’s a tireless worker. He loves football. He loves his teammates. He’s energetic on the field. He’s self-critical. He’s self-aware. He’s very accurate," Spytek said during a recent press conference. "His time is coming, but he’s got to earn it every day, and he knows that. I think we’re all very pleased with the person and his work ethic and his commitment to being a great quarterback."

When asked if the team has a proof of concept for how to best develop a young quarterback, Spytek cited examples from multiple different processes.

"Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, Patrick Mahomes, but Jayden Daniels. Like you said, there’s success stories and failures in both ways," Spytek said. "We’re just trying to build the best team we can and play the guys that are most ready to play, and have a constant competition in every room, not just the quarterback room, but every room."

Brady, Rodgers, Love and Mahomes all sat during their rookie years and, in some cases, multiple seasons before taking over starting jobs and flourishing. Daniels, however, started as a rookie and thrived, winning The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and making the Pro Bowl after leading the Commanders to the NFC championship game.

Kubiak said Brady has been a great resource for the team when it comes to making the decision on the team's starting quarterback.

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Cousins signed a two-year deal with the Raiders in the offseason after being released by the Atlanta Falcons following a tumultuous two seasons.

Cousins was benched in Week 15 in 2024, the first year of the deal, for rookie Michael Penix Jr. after the four-time Pro Bowler struggled down the stretch as he battled through injury. Cousins started eight games last season, including the final seven after Penix tore his ACL, and the team had a 5-3 record in his starts, including winning the last four.

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In 10 games and eight starts last season, Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. The veteran quarterback has the 19th-most regular-season passing yards (44,700) and 15th-most passing touchdowns (298) in NFL history.

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Cousins also had familiarity with Kubiak from their time with the Minnesota Vikings. They spent three seasons together, with Kubiak serving as Cousins’ quarterbacks coach for two seasons and offensive coordinator for another in Minnesota.

Cousins will hope that familiarity will pay off when the Raiders play the Dolphins in Week 1.