Raiders Seek Veteran QB to Mentor Presumptive No. 1 Pick

Las Vegas expected to pursue free agent Kirk Cousins to help develop young QB Fernando Mendoza

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Las Vegas Raiders are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. To help Mendoza transition to the NFL, the Raiders are reportedly interested in signing veteran free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins, who was recently released by the Atlanta Falcons.

Why it matters

The Raiders are looking to build around Mendoza as their franchise quarterback of the future. Bringing in an experienced veteran like Cousins could provide valuable mentorship and guidance to help Mendoza develop and succeed early in his NFL career.

The details

The Raiders recently traded away backup quarterback Geno Smith, signaling their intention to add a veteran QB to complement Mendoza. Cousins, a 37-year-old with 164 career NFL starts and 298 touchdown passes, could be an ideal fit to serve as a mentor and potentially start early on if Mendoza needs more time to adjust to the pro game.

  • On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Raiders were expected to show interest in signing free agent QB Kirk Cousins.
  • Cousins was under contract with the Atlanta Falcons but was expected to be released soon after the new league year began on March 11, 2026.

The players

Fernando Mendoza

The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion quarterback from Indiana, who is expected to be the No. 1 overall pick by the Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Kirk Cousins

A 37-year-old veteran quarterback who was recently released by the Atlanta Falcons and is expected to sign with the Raiders as a free agent to mentor Mendoza.

Geno Smith

The Raiders' former backup quarterback who was recently traded away, clearing the way for the team to sign a veteran free agent QB.

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What they’re saying

“Expect the Las Vegas Raiders to show interest in Kirk Cousins as they look for a veteran QB addition to help develop presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.”

— Dianna Russini, Reporter (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Raiders will need to finalize a contract with Kirk Cousins once he becomes a free agent after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.

The takeaway

The Raiders are making a concerted effort to build around their presumptive future franchise quarterback in Fernando Mendoza, and bringing in an experienced veteran like Kirk Cousins could be a key move to help ensure Mendoza's smooth transition to the NFL.