Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins are one of the key quarterback dynamics to watch this summer, with Mendoza coming in as the No. 1 overall pick and Cousins working as the journeyman mentor. Thus far, things have been more than friendly between the two, but as time wears on, many expect Mendoza to get a more serious look.
At least, that is what Adam Schefter expects, according to a statement he made on Tuesday on Get Up. The insider expressed a belief that Mendoza will get his time, but his first start is unlikely to be in Week 1.
“The idea is to give him even more time to grow even more in leaps and bounds and to bring in a guy like Kirk Cousins so there are zero timeframe restrictions on how long they have to sit Fernando Mendoza. I think the feeling around the league is that Cousins is going to start this out, and we’ll see how long that goes on.
“(It) probably will depend on how Kirk Cousins plays, how Fernando Mendoza picks up the offense, how the organization feels, but I think that they feel like by bringing in Kirk Cousins, they can give Mendoza all the time he needs to sit on the bench and continue to grow and learn in leaps and bounds.”
Cousins’ fate is in his hands, as the nearly 38-year-old quarterback heads into his third team tenure in four seasons.
Pinpointing Fernando Mendoza’s Likely First NFL Start
With Kirk Cousins set to lead the team in Week 1, Fernando Mendoza is likely to receive a lopsided number of reps in the preseason with the second-string players. He might even get some work with the first-team players after Cousins wraps up his work. However, once the calendar turns to September, expect Mendoza to stay quiet for some time as he watches Cousins work and waits for his opportunity.
The Raiders have a shot to get through September with a .500 record with matchups against the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints. However, after that, the Raiders could find themselves in some trouble in October with four straight matchups against the Chiefs, Patriots, Bills, and Rams. If the Raiders hit a losing streak, Mendoza will have a strong case to start against the New York Jets on Nov. 1.
The matchup would be a fitting time with former Raiders quarterback Geno Smith potentially in line to start the contest.
Once the switch happens, don’t expect the Raiders to go back to Cousins, as the strategy will turn toward getting Mendoza to build experience toward the 2027 season. Of course, Cousins will have the opportunity to blow up projections with an extended run, but even the best teams could struggle in the team’s October lineup.
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