Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis says the decision to begin Fernando Mendoza’s rookie season behind Kirk Cousins was designed to ease the pressure on the No. 1 pick. Now, with Cousins traded to Minnesota, Davis believes the next stage of that plan has arrived.
In an exclusive interview with Raiders columnist Paul Gutierrez published Wednesday, Davis explained why the team did not hand Mendoza the starting job immediately.
“I’m just letting the process play out,” Davis said. “When we drafted Fernando No. 1, we wanted to take the pressure off him being the Day 1 starter. And Kirk had been spectacular. He was a true Raider. Once a Raider, always a Raider.”
That explanation gives the switch a different frame from a simple reaction to a loss. Davis described a transition the organization had anticipated, while crediting Cousins for his work before the trade.
Mendoza is set to make his first NFL start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. For the Raiders, the change comes with a 4-5 record and games still to win this season.
What changed after the Raiders stayed with Kirk Cousins
The Raiders had kept Cousins as their starter amid Mendoza questions in October. At that point, coach Klint Kubiak had acknowledged the rookie would eventually play without committing to a date.
Tuesday’s deal removed that uncertainty. Las Vegas announced it was sending Cousins to the Vikings for a third-round pick in the 2027 draft, with completion contingent on his physical.
Cousins’ stint was productive in several respects: He threw for 2,340 yards and 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions in nine starts, completing 202 of 315 passes. The Raiders are moving on from a veteran who supplied substantial passing production, not a quarterback who had never established himself in the offense.
General manager John Spytek has also pushed back on the idea that changing quarterbacks means abandoning the season. NFL.com reported his assessment that Mendoza’s progress as a quarterback, teammate and leader forced a difficult decision.
Seattle will test the plan immediately
Mendoza’s first start is a significant step beyond his limited appearance against New England earlier this season. In that outing, he completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards; Sunday will require him to carry the offense from the opening series.
Davis pointed to the trade deadline when discussing the timing of a transition that puts Mendoza up against the defending Super Bowl champions. He also identified the rookie’s mobility as something he is eager to see.
The next question is how Mendoza handles that larger responsibility. The Raiders have given him time behind an experienced starter, but that preparation now has to translate into decisions and execution in a full game.
