Raiders coach Klint Kubiak officially named Kirk Cousins the team's starting quarterback Wednesday, confirming what had long been expected even after Las Vegas selected Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cousins signed, in essence, a one-year, $20 million deal with Las Vegas during free agency, knowing he'd be somewhat of a placeholder before ceding his way to the then-expected top pick, Mendoza.
Still, Kubiak refrained from naming a starter until roughly a week and a half before the Sept. 13 season opener against the Dolphins. In between his signing and Wednesday morning's announcement, Cousins was firmly entrenched as the team's top option both in practice and in preseason games. Across two preseason games, Cousins completed 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
"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."
Mendoza, meanwhile, had more ups and downs in his preseason. After impressing in his (unofficial) debut, Mendoza threw interceptions in both preseason Week 2 and preseason Week 3 while completing just over half of his passes and struggling behind a leaky second-/third-string offensive line.
"He needs another three preseason games," Kubiak said after the third preseason game. "All those rookies do. Now that the season is starting, the practice reps get smaller, and that's just life."
Mendoza will be the first rookie quarterback taken first overall to not start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018. Since then, six straight No. 1 overall pick quarterbacks have opened their first season as the starter: Kyler Murray (2019), Joe Burrow (2020), Trevor Lawrence (2021), Bryce Young (2023), Caleb Williams (2024), Cam Ward (2025).
Cousins, 38, appeared in 10 games for the Falcons last year, starting eight. He went 5-3 as a starter, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 61% of his passes. He ranked 27th out of 33 qualified quarterbacks in expected points added per dropback.
