Klint Kubiak may have given new hint about Raiders' Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza decision

Months before the Las Vegas Raiders made Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, first-year Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak hinted that he would not name a rookie his Week 1 starting quarterback. 

The Raiders have since signed Kirk Cousins, who went 5-2 and recorded 10 touchdown passes with five interceptions over his final starts with the Atlanta Falcons last season. While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Kubiak may or may not have given a hint about the status of his depth chart heading into the team's summer break. 

Raiders "counting on" Kirk Cousins for 2026 season

"If you watched Kirk play his last four games in Atlanta, you saw what he could do. He's getting healthier," Kubiak said about Cousins, per Sam Warren of The Athletic. "He's played really good football for us this time of year, and we're counting on him come the season."

Kubiak seemingly was referencing how Cousins is now another year removed from the Achilles tear he suffered in October 2023.

Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reportedly has quite a bit of influence regarding at least some of the team's personnel decisions, and he previously made it known he is in favor of a quarterback serving as a backup during his rookie season. 

Meanwhile, Mendoza acknowledged this week that he knows "there are going to be some growing pains" while making the transition from college football to the NFL. 

Are Raiders counting on Kirk Cousins to "mentor" Fernando Mendoza?

Earlier this week, Cousins said that the idea that he is a "mentor" for Mendoza, backup Aidan O'Connell and undrafted rookie Jacob Clark is "more of a narrative than it is the truth." On Thursday, Kubiak insisted that "we never asked anybody to be a mentor" this spring. 

"If you're on the roster," Kubiak continued, "it's to play and play really well for this team. So that's the QB's job, all three of them, is to get ready to play and win games at a high level."

Kubiak added: "All that I want from our quarterbacks is to be competitive and to all prepare like they're starters."

That's all well and good, but it seems like Cousins remains on track to start Las Vegas' Week 1 home game versus the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.