The Las Vegas Raiders had a 3-0 start to the season until they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 30-27, and in Week 5 they took a bad loss to the New England Patriots 45-17. Kirk Cousins was looking like the starter for the remainder of the season, but now with back-to-back losses, they may need to look for a quarterback change.
Everyone thought starting the season 3-0 would make them a playoff team, but looking at it now, they clearly still have a lot of improvement to do.
Raiders Quarterbacks: Is it Time for Mendoza to Start Over Cousins?
Mendoza Debut
Fernando Mendoza probably would not have wanted his debut to be against the Patriots in a blowout situation, but coach Klint Kubiak decided to put him in. The Raiders had many scoring opportunities in that game, but they just did not execute well.
Mendoza was clearly happy to get a chance to play his first game in the NFL. After the game was over, Mendoza said “I wanted to do my part any way I could to help the team.”
Mendoza also added, “But it is a good experience to have some regular-season snaps to evaluate and get better from, so in the future, if I am called upon, I have at least a little experience rather than none.”
Why Mendoza Should Eventually Get His Chance
The Raiders can’t keep Mendoza on the bench forever. He was the first overall pick for a reason.
The Raiders selected him first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft because they thought he would be a franchise quarterback. He definitely did not show that in the preseason, but not all quarterbacks have good preseason starts.
When Mendoza started on Sunday against the Patriots, he completed 75 percent of his passes, which tells you he has talent. The Raiders just need to figure out when the right time to unleash him is. If Cousins continues to do well, then keeping him on the bench would make sense, but if he does not do well, they should consider giving Mendoza the starting position.
Letting Mendoza play would allow the Raiders to learn more about the quarterback, and maybe even see his true potential.
However, the Raiders should definitely not rush Mendoza, especially if the Raiders continue winning with Cousins. That will just give Mendoza time to develop and become a great quarterback.
Mendoza will get his opportunity to play at some point, but for now, patience is the best choice. If the Raiders start doing bad then they should strongly consider making the move, but it’s too early to panic.
Mendoza’s Development Could Decide the Raiders’ Future
Mendoza’s development could decide when the Raiders decide to give him the starting role. The Raiders also have to think about the future. Cousins provides valuable experience, but Mendoza is expected to be the long-term quarterback in Las Vegas.
Now, if Cousins does badly, then you give Mendoza the chance to show off his true potential, but for now, just keep him on the bench so he can develop into what they want him to be.
The Raiders do have some talented skill position players, so it is enticing to see what Mendoza can do with them, but the Raiders are still off to a better start than anticipated and they should probably give Cousins a little more time.
If Mendoza improves this season, it may only be a matter of time before he gets the starting role.
Main Image: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
