Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 21

No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza Shares Tom Brady's QB Advice as Raiders Weigh Week 1 Starter

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jun 21

No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza Shares Tom Brady's QB Advice as Raiders Weigh Week 1 Starter

Q: Is the Raiders' QB battle a true meritocracy or a planned transition for their prized No. 1 overall pick?

It looks more like a planned transition wrapped in the language of competition. Publicly, the Raiders are calling it a meritocracy. General manager John Spytek has said the best player will play, and coach Klint Kubiak has stressed that every quarterback must prepare as the starter. Mendoza has also impressed coaches with his rapid learning, and the team has not formally ruled out a Week 1 debut. But the broader evidence points to a deliberate development plan. The Raiders drafted Mendoza No. 1 overall as their long-term franchise quarterback, then signed Kirk Cousins precisely to avoid forcing the rookie onto the field before he is ready. Kubiak has indicated a preference for a veteran opening the season, and Cousins’ experience, familiarity with Kubiak’s system, and still-viable 2025 play make him a credible bridge rather than a ceremonial placeholder. That does not make the competition fake. If Mendoza clearly outplays Cousins in camp and proves he can handle protections, timing, and NFL speed, the Raiders have left themselves room to start him. Still, the structure of the roster suggests Cousins was brought in to buy time, not to lose an open race by default. So the fairest reading is this: the Raiders are running a real evaluation, but within a planned transition framework. Cousins is the likely Week 1 starter unless Mendoza accelerates the timetable, and Mendoza remains the clear long-term answer.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 21

Fernando Mendoza said Tom Brady has urged him to be "the most everything" at quarterback — the most competitive, toughest and strongest leader — as the No. 1 pick prepares for his first NFL season.
The advice comes two months into Mendoza's time with Las Vegas after the Raiders drafted him first overall following an undefeated 2025 season, a national title and a Heisman Trophy at Indiana.
Week 1 remains unsettled because Mendoza is competing with Kirk Cousins, who joined the Raiders on a two-year, $12.6 million offseason deal and still appears capable of starting.
Cousins has downplayed any mentor label, saying he is also learning from the younger quarterbacks, underscoring that the Raiders' quarterback room is still taking shape.