There is one big issue for the Las Vegas Raiders this summer. Fernando Mendoza can absolutely win the Raiders’ starting quarterback job. However, the odds of him doing it for Week 1 remain long at this point in camp. The Raiders drafted him first overall after his Heisman season and national title run at Indiana. Thus, everyone in the building sees him as the long-term franchise guy.
Kirk Cousins is the experienced veteran they signed specifically to bridge the gap and take the early NFL future odds pressure off. At the onset, coach Klint Kubiak has been clear that Cousins opens training camp as the starter.
Now Mendoza himself has embraced that setup. He says he is fine taking the backup role as long as the team wins. And he has repeatedly noted that he still has work to do mastering the offense and playing under center.
Still, the door is not locked. Kubiak and the staff have said the best player will play. And they are already giving Mendoza more competitive reps than he got in the spring. He has moved ahead of Aidan O’Connell on the depth chart. Additionally, he is working primarily with the second team while getting sprinkled into some first-team work.
Early camp reports describe him as more comfortable and decisive than he was in OTAs. Specifically, with good command, accuracy on intermediate throws, and the ability to bounce back quickly from mistakes.
Mendoza has shown the kind of feel for the pocket and timing that made him special in college. In turn, connections with young receivers are starting to click. Those are the kinds of things that can force a conversation if Cousins has a rough stretch. Or if Mendoza simply outplays him through the preseason.
The realistic sportsbook path is for Cousins to start the season. While Mendoza is to continue developing until the coaching staff decides the moment is right. But nothing is set in stone.
Top Draft Pick Fernando Mendoza Aims for Starting QB Slot
Klint Kubiak fits the Raiders as a deliberate, no-nonsense builder. Instead of being a flashy personality hire. By contrast to the bigger-energy tenures of Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll. He arrived fresh off coordinating a Super Bowl-winning Seahawks offense.
Correlate that Kubiak brings a version of the outside-zone system rooted in his father’s lineage and the broader Shanahan tree. That means heavy personnel groups, under-center looks, and a commitment to the run that sets up play-action. In addition to an emphasis on reducing the mental load on the quarterback through structure and defined reads.
For a team that finished last in scoring the year before, this scheme offers a clear path to balance. Especially with a young quarterback like Fernando Mendoza and a physical running back like Ashton Jeanty already in the fold. Kubiak has shown flexibility within that framework, adapting to personnel and defensive responses. Instead of forcing concepts, which should help the Raiders maximize what they have.
Culturally, the NFL betting fit is quieter and more process-oriented than in recent years. Kubiak is direct, consistent, and all business. Specifically, players have described him as a straight-ball coach, with no fluff and one steady tone. He has made a point that the players themselves set the standard. Following that, the coaching staff defines what acceptable effort looks like on film. The decision to leave the pirate logos off the helmets until the group earns them together is a small but telling example of that approach.