Fernando Mendoza may not have to wait long to start for the Raiders

As expected, the Las Vegas Raiders took Indiana star Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Mendoza was the consensus QB1 for most of the pre-draft process, but he also came with some glaring questions, starting with his lack of experience playing under center.

Considering that, the Raiders also signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins, presumably to take over the offense early in the season.

That said, ESPN NFL reporter Lindsey Thiry doesn't think Cousins will be in charge for long. Unlike what most analysts expect, she argued that Mendoza might not have to wait long to get on the field.

Fernando Mendoza might start for the Raiders sooner than expected

"The Raiders selected Mendoza with the No. 1 pick with the mindset that the Heisman Trophy-winning QB would arrive in Las Vegas and learn at the elbow of veteran Kirk Cousins, whom they signed in free agency," Thiry wrote. "Coach Klint Kubiak has said ideally, he would not want a rookie starting from day one, but look for Mendoza to expedite the process."

Mendoza has been working tirelessly from the minute he arrived in the Raiders' facility.

He's got the work ethic and the physical attributes to get a hold of Klint Kubiak's offense as a rookie, though he needs as many reps as he can handle to get a hold of NFL-style football.

The Raiders are doing the right thing by not throwing their rookie signal-caller into the fire right away.

Many young quarterbacks have struggled in their first couple of years due to a lack of preparation, and they've had a tough time turning the narrative around or coping with early career failure.

That said, the Raiders are unlikely to be Super Bowl contenders this season, and if Mendoza shows signs of being ready, they shouldn't doubt to pull the plug on Cousins and let Mendoza show what he's capable of, even if they're playing well with the veteran.