Ian Rapoport of NFL Network broke down the Raiders' quarterback situation on The Insiders this week, examining the best-case scenario for a franchise trying to balance winning now with developing its future.
The team's stance has been consistent, and it is drawing skepticism.
Why The Raiders Are Saying It
Cousins has been positioned as the Week 1 starter for months.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported the veteran is "well positioned" to open the season under center, and ESPN's Ryan McFadden reported that the organization has been patient with Fernando Mendoza's adjustment to the NFL, giving the rookie the bulk of his OTA and minicamp snaps with the second and third teams.
Head coach Klint Kubiak, who was Cousins' quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator in Minnesota, has been open about his philosophy.
🚨🚨 The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly planning to have Kirk Cousins be their starter for the entire season:
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) July 18, 2026
"The way they're hoping for it to all be is for Kirk Cousins to be the starter at the beginning of the season, throughout the season, and the end of the season."
Via… pic.twitter.com/iR4gyDoc2K
"Ideally, you don't want him to start from Day 1," Kubiak said of Mendoza. "You'd love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That's in a perfect world."
At Raiders Media Day, Kubiak said the staff will give Cousins, Mendoza, and Aidan O'Connell first-team reps in camp and that he would be comfortable with any of the three starting.
Cousins is coming off a respectable stretch in Atlanta, going 5-3 in eight starts while completing 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions with a 76.0 PFF grade that ranked 16th in the league.
He signed what is effectively a one-year, $20 million deal with Las Vegas in April.
Why Nobody Is Buying It
Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick after winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship at Indiana, and he has drawn rave reviews since arriving.
Analysts project he will take over by roughly Week 8 against the Jets or Week 13 after the bye, with Adam Schefter having speculated the handoff could come as late as December given the Raiders' four road games in November.
The larger point is that the Raiders need Mendoza on the field in 2026 to give their fan base hope after a 3-14 season, and Cousins holding the job for any real stretch would be an indictment of the rookie's readiness.
Cousins is a competent bridge who can keep the team competitive, but the notion that he plays all 17 games is one very few outside the building are taking seriously.
