Fernando Mendoza is projected to start for the Raiders in 2026, with Kirk Cousins as the initial QB1. The team is focused on developing Mendoza during his rookie season.
The Las Vegas Raiders appear willing to be patient with Fernando Mendoza's development. But chances are, at some point in 2026, he's going to take the field as a starter.
The Raiders are aiming to take steps forward in Mendoza's rookie season, not yet a title contender as they seek to develop young talent for a franchise that has made the playoffs just once in the last eight seasons.
Kirk Cousins is expected to begin the 2026 season as the Raiders' QB1, bringing a veteran presence to the offense. But once likely losses accumulate for Las Vegas, it could be time for the No. 1 pick to shine.
Here's a projection of when Mendoza could become the Raiders' starter after the team's 2026 schedule was released.
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Nothing is yet official, but ever since new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said in March that he would prefer a rookie quarterback to watch "a mature adult go and run an offense and run the team," it's appeared that he will not be giving Mendoza the immediate QB1 job in Las Vegas.
“Sometimes they have to play from Day 1,” Kubiak said in March, per NBC. “It’s our job as a coach to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player, though, if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”
Those comments came when the Raiders were virtually locked into taking Mendoza at No. 1 overall, but before they also signed Kirk Cousins as a free agent, adding a veteran presence to the quarterback room.
More clarity should be provided throughout training camp, but, considering Cousins' history as a starter for most of his career and the Raiders' need for offensive stability, they're expected to keep Mendoza on the bench until they feel he's ready. That will likely come at some point during the 2026 season, but right now, the expectation for Week 1 is that Cousins is running the show.
If Cousins is going to be QB1 in Las Vegas, then the next question is simple: When will the Raiders feel ready to give Mendoza a shot?
As the No. 1 pick, Las Vegas didn't draft the Heisman Trophy winner just to not see what he's capable of. At some point this coming season, Mendoza will take the snaps — and in all likelihood, with the Raiders' playoff chances appearing low, the team will likely wait until the pressure feels eased on Mendoza's shoulders.
While things can change in an NFL offseason, the Raiders appear to open with two "lighter" opponents in three weeks, facing the Dolphins in Week 1 and Saints in Week 3. But from there, games against the Chiefs, Patriots, Bills and Rams will be difficult — there's little chance that Las Vegas comes into Week 8 with any over three wins.
A Week 8 matchup against another rebuilding squad, the Jets, could be a perfect time to introduce Mendoza. By that point, the rest of the offense will be settled in, including Kubiak as the new play caller, and Mendoza can take on a below-average defense on a Sunday afternoon for a low-stakes debut. Granted, he'd then have to lead the team against the 49ers, Seahawks and Broncos over the following three weeks.
Bye weeks are also typically a good opportunity for a big move like a quarterback swap — the Raiders will have theirs in Week 13, which is early December. If they want to give Mendoza more time to watch Cousins, then a Week 14 debut against the Chargers could be circled, allowing Mendoza to get a week of first-team reps on the bye before taking the field. And by that point, Las Vegas' playoff hopes will most likely be gone.
It's all in Kubiak's hands as to when he wants to give Mendoza the ball. Again, it's bound to happen at some point this fall, but the Raiders have indicated they'll be as patient as necessary with the former Indiana star.
