The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to select former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft. If Las Vegas goes in that direction, Mendoza won’t be the only quarterback added this offseason.
The Raiders have brought in veteran Kirk Cousins, following the end of his tenure with the Atlanta Falcons. For his part, Cousins has made it clear to head coach Klint Kubiak that he feels that “the best player needs to play,” regardless of if that is him, Mendoza, or someone else.
“If that’s not me, I don’t want to be out there,” Cousins said Wednesday, per ESPN. “I don’t think that’s the best thing for the team. If I am the best option, then I believe it’s important that those guys are out there.
“… But I’m excited to get the chance to lead, help influence in the locker room, do my part and most importantly, help our team win.”
Cousins’ familiarity with Kubiak contributed to his decision to join the Raiders, after they spent three years working together for the Minnesota Vikings.
“I think highly of his system, his staff, [offensive line coach] Rick Dennison, [offensive coordinator] Andrew Janocko, [and] the way they marry the run and pass,” he said.
However, he realized that he’ll still have to get caught up to speed on the minutiae of the offense.
“I’m asking [Janocko], ‘What does that word mean? What does this word mean?’ Like, I need to learn this like I’m a rookie, because this is all new to me,” Cousins said. “…That’s what good coaches do. They evolve. That’s the way Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell [were]. It always changed and evolved, and it’s the same thing that’s happened here.”
It’ll be interesting if he catches up enough to earn the Raiders’ starting job.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.