Kirk Cousins gets Raiders camp QB nod over Fernando Mendoza
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Kirk Cousins will open training camp as QB1 while Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell push him.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Kirk Cousins will open Raiders camp as Las Vegas’ starting quarterback, coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday, putting the veteran ahead of first overall pick Fernando Mendoza when practice begins Wednesday.
Kubiak said Cousins has earned the first crack with the No. 1 offense after what the coach described as strong play through the offseason program. He also made clear that Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell will be expected to compete behind him.
The decision tracks with how the Raiders handled spring work, according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. Cousins, who joined Las Vegas in the offseason, took most of the first-team snaps, while Mendoza worked with the second and third units along with O’Connell.
Who is the Raiders starting quarterback to open camp?
Cousins is the Raiders’ starting quarterback to begin training camp, according to Kubiak. That means he will start camp as QB1, though the coach said the exact split of practice reps across the first, second and third teams can change.
Kubiak said the quarterback rotation will be a “moving target,” with different players getting looks with different groups during camp. In plain terms: Cousins gets the opening nod, and the Raiders still want competition in the room.
The setup also fits a broader team plan. Kubiak has said he believes a young quarterback can benefit from playing and learning behind an experienced starter rather than being handed control of the offense immediately. ESPN reported that general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady share that view, and that the philosophy helped shape the move to bring in Cousins after his March release by the Atlanta Falcons.
Why Cousins has the edge in Las Vegas
Cousins arrives with a long NFL résumé. He is entering his 15th season and is a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Before his time in Atlanta, he spent six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.
His history with Kubiak matters, too. The two worked together in Minnesota from 2019 through 2021, when Kubiak served in quarterback-focused offensive roles. Over that stretch, Cousins threw for 12,089 yards, 94 touchdowns and 26 interceptions while completing 67.6% of his passes.
In 2021, with Kubiak as offensive coordinator, Cousins made the Pro Bowl after passing for 4,221 yards and 33 touchdowns. He posted a 103.1 passer rating and completed 66.3% of his throws that season.
Kubiak said Cousins’ biggest value to the Raiders is what he can do as a player now, adding that the team brought him in to play quality football.
What the Raiders want from Fernando Mendoza
Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick, will be judged on more than box-score practice stats, Kubiak said. The coach wants to see how the rookie responds when things go wrong, how quickly he fixes mistakes and what kind of presence he shows.
Kubiak said the Raiders gave Mendoza a heavy workload during the offseason and expect a lot from him once camp practices begin. For now, Cousins gets the wheel first, with Mendoza and O’Connell chasing from behind.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.