Report updates if Raiders are serious about controversial Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza decision

Previously, Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek and first-year head coach Klint Kubiak strongly suggested that they would like rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza to spend a significant amount of time learning about life in the NFL while serving as a backup for veteran Kirk Cousins.

However, Spytek later teased that "the best guy will play" this year. Thus, some understandably have wondered if Mendoza will receive an opportunity to win the starting job before the preseason wraps up in August. 

For an update shared on Monday, Zak Keefer of The Athletic addressed the Raiders' handling of what may not be all that difficult of a situation for those involved. 

The Raiders have a clear Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza plan in mind

"Las Vegas isn’t paying Cousins $20M, his guaranteed salary for 2026, to hold a clipboard and be a mentor," Keefer wrote. "All indications are that he’ll be the Raiders’ starter Week 1 and beyond. It doesn’t mean Las Vegas has any doubt about its prized pick. The Raiders were sold over a month ago; Mendoza was the future. Any teams calling GM John Spytek in recent weeks hoping to slide into the top spot — and there happened to be a few — were met with a blunt answer: 'No.' The question now is when he’ll see the field."

Raiders minority owner Tom Brady seemingly has quite a bit of power regarding at least some personnel decisions, and he once said that he thinks it's "a tragedy" that teams force quarterbacks into lineups as rookies. Thus, one would think that Brady will push Kubiak to keep Mendoza sidelined for as long as is deemed possible. 

How will Fernando Mendoza handle being a backup for at least one season?

"Kubiak seemed resolute in his belief," Keefer added, "and he doesn’t seem like the coach willing to bend on it if his team starts 1-4. Mendoza is sharp and seasoned. He started 36 games in college. He won the Heisman Trophy. He led one of the most unexpected title runs in the history of the sport, seizing every stage he saw. After going No. 1, he said, 'I haven’t proven anything.' He celebrated by watching an entire season of Cousins’ film."

In short, it sounds like Kubiak and Co. are confident that Mendoza will be just fine if he has to wait until September 2027 to receive his first start as a pro.