Despite decades of futility since their last Super Bowl victory—predating Kirk Cousins’s birth by over four years—the Raiders have secured the first overall draft pick only twice: in 2007 and 2026.
The previous occasion did not go well. JaMarcus Russell didn’t start immediately, but it likely wouldn’t have altered the outcome; his tenure ended after just 25 starts across three seasons.
Now, Fernando Mendoza arrives with the franchise’s hope of becoming their first true long-term starter since Kenny Stabler. The Week 1 options are Mendoza and Cousins.
In late March, new head coach Klint Kubiak indicated a preference for Mendoza to spend time watching a mature adult go and run an offense and run the team. However, Cousins has maintained that the decision must be merit-based.
“I honestly don’t want to start unless I’m the best option, and I told Klint that,” Cousins said in early April. “The best player should play. As long as that’s the case, I have no qualms about however it plays out.”
How will the competition unfold? Kubiak talked up Cousins during the offseason program, signaling his potential preference. But training camp presents a different dynamic.
Once practices commence and both quarterbacks receive reps, the roster will evaluate their performances firsthand. Teammates will compare and contrast, ultimately forming a judgment on who offers the best chance to win.
If Mendoza proves superior, benching him for Cousins will be difficult. Veteran leaders like Maxx Crosby prioritize winning. If the locker room believes the rookie provides a better path to victory, they will resist a developmental plan that keeps him sidelined.
The Kansas City Chiefs managed a similar situation with Patrick Mahomes and Alex Smith because they were perennial contenders. The Raiders, conversely, have been also-rans in the AFC West. If players view Mendoza as, in Cousins’s words, “the best player,” they won’t accept keeping a Ferrari in the garage while driving a Fiat.
And if the 37-year-old Cousins—who lacked a clear starting market elsewhere—outperforms Mendoza, it raises serious questions about the decision to make Mendoza the top overall pick.
The era of five-year plans in the NFL ended decades ago. The league operates on a season-to-season basis. Veteran players refuse to endure a year where the best available talent sits on the bench.
Simply put, the Raiders haven’t earned the luxury of stashing a superior player. If Mendoza is that player, he must start. If he isn’t, the organization must answer why they selected him with the same pick that yielded JaMarcus Russell 19 years prior.
