Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that Kirk Cousins will be the team's starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. This decision means that rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, will begin his professional career as a backup.
"Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp, and he’s earned it," Kubiak told reporters, adding that he is pleased with the performance of all three quarterbacks on the roster. When asked about Mendoza's potential playing time this season, Kubiak stated the team's immediate focus is on preparing for the Dolphins.
Raiders general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady have previously expressed support for developing a rookie quarterback behind a veteran. Spytek commented on Mendoza's progress, noting that the young quarterback has demonstrated the qualities the team saw during the draft process. "He's a tireless worker. He loves football. He loves his teammates. He’s energetic on the field. He’s self-critical. He’s self-aware. He’s very accurate," Spytek said during a press conference. "His time is coming, but he’s got to earn it every day, and he knows that."
Spytek also referenced various quarterback development paths, citing examples of both success and failure. He mentioned players like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, and Patrick Mahomes, who sat for extended periods before becoming starters, contrasting them with Jayden Daniels, who started as a rookie and achieved significant success, including winning The Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Spytek emphasized the team's goal of building the best possible team through constant competition in every position group.
Cousins signed a two-year deal with the Raiders in the offseason following his release from the Atlanta Falcons. In the 2024 season, Cousins was benched in Week 15 for Michael Penix Jr. due to struggles and injury. He returned to start the final seven games of the season after Penix Jr. suffered a torn ACL, leading the team to a 5-3 record in his starts, including a four-game winning streak to end the season. In those 10 games, with eight starts, Cousins completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,721 yards, with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He ranks 19th in NFL history in regular-season passing yards with 44,700 and 15th in passing touchdowns with 298.
Cousins brings familiarity with Kubiak, having spent three seasons with him on the Minnesota Vikings staff. Kubiak served as Cousins’ quarterbacks coach for two seasons and offensive coordinator for one during their time together. The Raiders will look for this established connection to contribute to their performance against the Dolphins in Week 1.