LAS VEGAS — The Fernando Mendoza era will have to wait. Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that veteran Kirk Cousins will start at quarterback when the Raiders open the 2026 regular season against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13, sending No. 1 overall pick Mendoza to the bench for the beginning of his rookie season.
The decision ends months of speculation surrounding Las Vegas’ quarterback competition and confirms what appeared to be the organization’s original plan when it brought Cousins to the desert: let the veteran handle the offense while Mendoza develops behind him. Kubiak said Cousins earned the job with his performance throughout the offseason and training camp.
“He played really good football,” Kubiak said. “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it.”
Raiders Choosing Patience With Mendoza
There will naturally be pressure to see Mendoza considering the investment Las Vegas made in him. The Raiders used the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on the 22-year-old quarterback, making him the centerpiece of the franchise’s long-term rebuilding plan.
But Kubiak isn’t allowing draft position to determine who starts Week 1. Instead, Cousins will get the first opportunity. The decision also breaks a recent NFL trend. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the previous six quarterbacks selected No. 1 overall were their team’s starters on opening day.
Mendoza won’t become the seventh. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Raiders are disappointed with his development. Rather, Las Vegas has something many teams drafting a quarterback first overall don’t have: an accomplished veteran capable of starting while the rookie develops. Cousins gives the Raiders the luxury of patience.
Tom Brady Consulted During Quarterback Decision
There was another notable figure involved in the process. Kubiak revealed that he spoke with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady “multiple times a week” before deciding on the starting quarterback.
Brady’s involvement is particularly interesting considering Mendoza’s position as the franchise’s quarterback of the future. Few people understand quarterback development, preparation and the demands of playing the position better than Brady, whose seven Super Bowl championships and two decades of sustained success made him one of the most accomplished players in NFL history.
Since becoming part of the Raiders’ ownership group, Brady has increasingly become an influential voice around the franchise. Now his input is helping shape one of the organization’s most important decisions.
Las Vegas isn’t merely deciding who starts against Miami. It’s determining how to develop the player it hopes will start at quarterback for the next decade.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
