Fernando Mendoza gets first Raiders start after Kirk Cousins trade
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick, was set for his first start against Seattle after Kirk Cousins was traded to the Vikings for a 2027 third-rounder.
Livefeed News DeskUpdated · 3 min read
Quick answer
Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the draft, became the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback after the team traded Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick. He was set to make his first start against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10, and reports say he would have started soon regardless.
Key facts
- The Raiders traded Kirk Cousins to the Vikings on Tuesday for a 2027 third-round pick.
- Mendoza was set to make his first career start against the Seattle Seahawks.
- Without the trade, Mendoza would have started on 29 November against Cleveland if the Raiders lost to Seattle and Denver, sources told NFL Network.
- Mendoza went 16-0 at Indiana in his final college season, with 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions.
- At least 50 different quarterbacks will have started games through Week 10 of the 2026 season.
Why is Mendoza starting now?
The Las Vegas Raiders handed the job to Fernando Mendoza after trading Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday for a 2027 third-round draft pick. The No. 1 overall pick was set to make his first NFL start against the Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions, in Week 10.
The switch was coming either way. Sources told NFL Network the Raiders planned to start Mendoza within weeks even if Cousins had stayed. Had Las Vegas lost to Seattle and then to the Denver Broncos on 22 November, Mendoza would have started on 29 November against the Cleveland Browns. The team, 4-5, had always said publicly it had a plan for him while keeping the details private.
What the Raiders are saying
Coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza will have the full playbook available. "His teammates know how prepared he is," Kubiak said. "It's not just lip service, but he has shown it on the practice field."
Mendoza credited Cousins for his time as a backup. "It would have been really easy for Kirk... being a veteran quarterback and kind of having already proved everything to be a little bit more dismissive, but he's had me with open arms and has taught me so many things," he said.
Who is Fernando Mendoza?
Mendoza was drafted first overall in April after winning the Heisman Trophy and the college football national championship with Indiana. His final college season ended 16-0, with career highs of a 72.0 completion percentage, 3,535 passing yards and 41 touchdowns against six interceptions.
Sunday is not his NFL debut. He came on late in the Raiders' 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 5, completing his first five passes and finishing 6 of 8 for 48 yards.
Part of a season of quarterback churn
Mendoza is one of three quarterbacks making a first start this week, along with Carson Beck for the Arizona Cardinals and Kyle McCord for the Miami Dolphins, both of whom are also making their NFL debuts. NBC Sports research says the trio will be the 48th, 49th and 50th different starters of 2026.
CBS Sports says 50 starters through Week 10 would be tied for the second-most in the past 20 seasons, behind 51 in 2019. NBC Sports puts it as only the second time in 15 years, excluding the 1987 strike season, that 50 quarterbacks have started in the first 10 weeks; the record since 1950 is 55, set in 1999. Most of the changes this year have come from injuries, though the Raiders' move followed a trade.
History offers a modest benchmark. Of the 158 quarterbacks to start at least one game as rookies since 2000, 22 made their first start between Weeks 10 and 13, and only five of them won that debut.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the Raiders' starting quarterback?
Rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, took over after Kirk Cousins was traded to the Vikings.
What did the Raiders get for Kirk Cousins?
Minnesota sent Las Vegas a 2027 third-round draft pick.
When is Fernando Mendoza's first start?
He was set to make his first career start against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 10.
Has Fernando Mendoza played in the NFL before?
Yes. He played late in the Week 5 loss to New England and went 6 of 8 for 48 yards.
