Fernando Mendoza, the 22-year-old Heisman Trophy winner, might have to start his rookie season on the bench after being warned. The Las Vegas Raiders, who are expected to pick him as the No 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins to a five-year, $172 million contract.
Cousins' stance on rookie quarterbacks has emerged, and it's not something Mendoza will enjoy listening to. The former Vikings and Falcons QB had appeared with the Clark of This is Football! podcast and said that teams have sat rookie quarterbacks for years before putting them in the game.
However, ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that the Raiders will host Mendoza for a visit on Tuesday. The team holds the No 1 overall pick in this month's draft and is likely to find itself training in Las Vegas alongside another recent draftee.
Raiders' head coach Kubiak said he would prefer Mendoza to initially learn from a veteran quarterback, rather than stepping immediately into an NFL starting role. Cousins fits that bill, with ESPN reporting the four-time Pro Bowler will earn a guaranteed $20 million for the upcoming season.
