NFL insider shares warning for Raiders about Fernando Mendoza, Kirk Cousins decision

Former Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson is among the noteworthy members of the NFL community who believe first-year Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak should name rookie Fernando Mendoza the team's Week 1 starting quarterback.

That said, it's assumed that Kubiak and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady will want Mendoza to spend at least part of his rookie season watching veteran Kirk Cousins "go and run an offense and run the team." Of course, Brady spent nearly all of his rookie campaign as a backup behind Drew Bledsoe before the future Hall of Famer was thrust into action the following season.  

Per Terrance Biggs of Heavy, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk/NBC Sports warned the Raiders during Wednesday's edition of Florio's "Pro Football Talk Live" program about what could happen if the club sits Mendoza in September. 

Could Raiders face player mutiny over Fernando Mendoza, Kirk Cousins decision?

"When you’re out on the practice field," Florio said, "if Mendoza is clearly better than Kirk Cousins this deep into his career at this age, late 30s, if Mendoza is clearly better, and you’ve got some grand strategic plan that you’re going to let him sit for a year, what’s (pass-rusher) Maxx Crosby going to say about that? What’s (tight end) Brock Bowers going to say about that?"

During the 2024 season, the New England Patriots were allegedly "teetering on mutiny" as then-head coach Jerod Mayo continued to play veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett over promising rookie Drake Maye. Mayo eventually turned to Maye, but Mayo later became a one-and-done head coach.

As for Crosby, he reportedly requested a trade at some point after the 2025 season wrapped up. Crosby and the Raiders are now seemingly on the same page after he endured what he referred to as "a different offseason," but some think he could once again explore his options if he's unhappy with the state of the club this coming fall. 

Some Raiders players won't care about Fernando Mendoza's long-term development

"The NFL has evolved to the ultimate one-year-at-a-time sport," Florio added. 

In short, Raiders players will likely care more about what Mendoza could possibly offer the team this fall than about the prospect's overall development. Then again, such conversations could become downright silly if Mendoza still looks like a work in progress when the Raiders open the preseason with a game versus the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 13.