Why the Las Vegas Raiders Should Be More Patient with Their 22-Year-Old Rookie Quarterback in 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders had a busy offseason that didn’t just involve their franchise pass rusher, after finishing 2025 with a 3-14 record and dead last in the AFC West. Since 2003, the Raiders have made the playoffs only twice, the last time in 2021. It’s been a series of misfortunes over the years, but their luck may be about to change. Las Vegas drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The former Indiana Hoosier threw 41 touchdowns in his senior season, taking Indiana to their first National Championship in the team's history. Now, Mendoza has the opportunity to turn another franchise’s luck around, but should the Raiders be patient with their rookie quarterback?
The new norm in the NFL has been to start first-round selections, opting not to let them sit on the bench and throw them into the fire right away instead. It’s a controversial split around the league about how first-round quarterbacks should be developed. There’s a range of different scenarios that have played out over the years, with quarterbacks like Justin Fields and Johnny Manziel failing after playing in their first seasons. Quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and Joe Burrow have succeeded despite starting so early in their careers. It’s been proven there’s no one way that NFL teams must take in developing a quarterback, but in the case of Las Vegas, sitting Mendoza may be the correct option.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins was signed to the Raiders this offseason, providing a substantial veteran mind in the position room. Cousins has had an impressive career, where he has multiple 4,000 passing yard seasons along with being a four-time Pro Bowler. The signing wasn’t just made to give Mendoza a brilliant mind to learn off of, but also to use in Week One to get the Raiders off to a fast start. While Cousins is getting older, he has proven to still be a reliable quarterback in the NFL. Choosing to start Mendoza at the beginning of the season will come with rookie lows that can affect the team's record early in the year. The Raiders’ best interest may be to let Mendoza sit under Cousins and let him sponge as much information as he can before he steps onto the field. The Raiders have a lot of time to make a decision, but the quarterback battle will be one to monitor as the season continues to approach.
