Fernando Mendoza kickstarts new Las Vegas Raiders’ era

But Kubiak isn’t alone in gearing up Mendoza for the NFL game.

Trusted offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko and veteran quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan are integral parts of Kubiak’s coaching staff and both are accustomed to developing signal callers.

Sullivan, 59 years old, started coaching quarterbacks 16 years ago with the New York Giants and is renowned for coaching Eli Manning to a career-best 2011 season that saw the quarterback throw for nearly 5,000 yard (4,933) along with 29 touchdowns as the G-Men won Super Bowl XLVI 21-17 by dropping the mighty New England Patriots. Sullivan also guided Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2012), Case Keenum (Denver Broncos, 2018), and Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers, 2021).

Janocko, 38, is one of Kubiak’s most trusted lieutenants as the duo has been in a number of spots together. Before landing with Kubiak in Las Vegas, Janocko served as the Seattle Seahawks quarterback coach helping Kubiak with veteran Sam Darnold. Before that, Janocko guided Justin Fields (Chicago Bears, 2022-23), and was the QB coach to Kubiak being the offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 with Cousins as the signal caller. The now Raiders head coach (and play caller) and offensive coordinator coached Cousins to an efficient 2021 campaign (4,221 yards, 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions) and the trio is reunited in Las Vegas six seasons later.

With that much experience and production between Kubiak, Janocko, and Sullivan coaching quarterbacks it’ll truly be disappointing if Mendoza’s growth is stunted or doesn’t come to fruition. The “new era” would become “same old, same old” if the pairing of Kubiak and Mendoza flops.

But I’d be remiss not to mention the on-field mentor Mendoza will have in Cousins.

The 37-year-old quarterback (38 on August 19) has seen it all and carved out a productive and respectable NFL career since arriving to the league as a fourth-round pick (102nd overall) in the 2012 draft. Cousins experiencing the highs and lows of the game have shaped him and it’s that experience that’ll help Mendoza as he watches and learns from the veteran who enters his 15th year in the NFL.

But that’s just one portion of why Cousins is an ideal mentor for Mendoza.

Kubiak and Spytek saw the similarities between the veteran and rookie quarterback and decided the pairing will help both signal callers. From eerily alike play styles — accurate passers who rely on timing, footwork, and reading a defense — Cousins and Mendoza have high processing ability and are cerebral types to similar personality and values — nerdy, outspoken about their faith, and being ultra-positive who prioritize team over individual accolades — the two Raiders quarterbacks can be called carbon copies. The difference between the two — other than obviously age — is Mendoza is bigger at a shade under 6-foot-5 at 6-foot-4 3/4 inches and 236 pounds and more athletic than his veteran counterpart. Cousins stands 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, in comparison.

Add in Cousins familiarity with both Kubiak’s and Janocko’s expectations from the quarterback position and offensive concepts and schemes, and the veteran will be an excellent sounding board for Mendoza. Cousins welcomes the questions and wants the quarterback room to be a noisy one where the veteran and rookie can exchange feedback. Not to mention that Cousins wants an open competition to earn the starting gig and if he isn’t the best option, he wants Mendoza to start.

Our Bill Williamson summed it up best draft night: Mendoza will play at some point in 2026. Perhaps even Week 1. An open competition between Cousins and Mendoza can result in the rookie outperforming the veteran. It’s not outside the realm of possibility despite both Kubiak and Spytek saying previously they’d prefer a rookie quarterback sit and learn. And the Silver & Black have a history of a rookie outshining a veteran — back in 2014 when second-round pick Derek Carr was named the starter over Matt Schaub.

Spytek echoed what Cousins said earlier int he month — earlier this week on the Rich Eisen Show.

“The best man will play,” the Raiders general manager said. “I have a lot of respect for Kirk, and he has been playing good football for a long time, and we are excited to have him here in Las Vegas with us. The best man will play. We will have more answers here in the coming days.”

The resounding answer so far: Mendoza was the Silver & Black’s top choice to kick off the 2026 draft. And more answers will be coming.

Are you ready?