Raiders' No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza waits behind Kirk Cousins as calls to start him grow
The gist
Raiders owner Mark Davis says there is "absolutely no pressure whatsoever" to start rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The No. 1 pick's development plan is now the team's biggest question at 4-5.
How it unfolded
- Feb 27, 2026Mendoza, then an Indiana quarterback coming off a 16-0 season, says he was "lucky" to interview with the Raiders and that Tom Brady mentorship would "mean so much."
- Apr 28, 2026Mendoza has his first day as a Raider after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Oct 11, 2026Mendoza makes his NFL regular-season debut late in the Raiders' loss to the New England Patriots, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards; Cousins completed 19 of 28 for 243 yards, a touchdown and a 106.7 passer rating.
Key terms
- No. 1 pick
- The first player selected in the NFL draft, chosen by the team with the worst previous-season record.
- Heisman Trophy
- An annual award given since 1935 to the top player in American college football.
Source: Wikipedia