Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins speaks at a press conference at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Candice Ward-Imagn Images

Raiders' Kirk Cousins wants to learn one thing from Fernando Mendoza

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 8:01 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders have found their first quarterback of the Klint Kubiak era.

They signed Kirk Cousins to a five-year deal, which functions as a one-year contract, hoping the veteran can be a bridge before the projected No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza officially isn't a Raider yet, but it seems only a massive turn of events will stop them from taking him with the No. 1 pick.

As such, Cousins is already excited not only to mentor the Indiana product but also to learn from him.

In an appearance on "Good Morning Football," Cousins gushed about Mendoza's back-shoulder throws, adding that he'd like to add them to his repertoire.

Kirk Cousins wants to learn some tricks from Fernando Mendoza

“I was even telling him how much success he had throwing back shoulder at IU, I would like to learn a little bit from him about throwing a good back shoulder,” Cousins said.

"I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team" @KirkCousins8 on the possibility of getting to work with @fernandomendoza on the @Raiders pic.twitter.com/S8zK7YzChs
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 8, 2026

Cousins lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr., but his final stint with the Atlanta Falcons showed that he still had something left in the tank.

According to Football Reference, the former Minnesota Vikings star completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions, and he should give the Raiders a steady base to keep the ship afloat. At the same time, Mendoza gets used to the speed and feel of the pros.

The Heisman trophy winner is a promising and accurate passer with a strong feel for the game. That said, the Raiders will likely err on the side of caution with the new face of the franchise, which looks like a wise call after watching so many high-end prospects struggle to make the jump to the NFL.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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