Raiders Sign Veteran QB Kirk Cousins, Raising Questions About Week 1 Starter

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo explains why Cousins may get the nod over rookie Fernando Mendoza to begin the season.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:36pm

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The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, adding him to their quarterback room alongside rookie Fernando Mendoza, who they are expected to draft. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo suggests Cousins could be the Week 1 starter due to his familiarity with Raiders offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who previously coached Cousins in Minnesota.

Why it matters

The Raiders' quarterback situation has been a major offseason focus, with the team looking to upgrade the position. The addition of Cousins adds an experienced veteran to the mix, potentially complicating the path for Mendoza to win the starting job as a rookie.

The details

Garafolo noted that Kubiak, the Raiders' offensive coordinator, has expressed a preference for allowing young quarterbacks to sit and learn initially. However, the signing of Cousins, who had interest from several teams including the Rams and Cardinals, gives the Raiders the option to start the veteran in Week 1 if needed.

  • The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins in the weeks leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft.

The players

Kirk Cousins

A veteran NFL quarterback who has signed with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.

Fernando Mendoza

A rookie quarterback expected to be drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Klint Kubiak

The offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders, who previously coached Kirk Cousins when he was with the Minnesota Vikings.

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What they’re saying

“'Klint Kubiak the other day at the NFL's annual meetings talking about how, ideally, you'd like to have a young guy sit for a little bit but sometimes you have to put him in a position to play. You don't have to now play Fernando Mendoza if you don't want to having added Kirk Cousins, a guy who Kubiak is familiar with.'”

— Mike Garafolo, NFL Network Reporter

“'Cousins had interest from a number of teams, he was in communication with a number of teams. There was a possibility that, if Aaron Rodgers decided that he didn't want to go back to Pittsburgh, that Kirk Cousins might have been in play there.'”

— Mike Garafolo, NFL Network Reporter

What’s next

The Raiders will hold a quarterback competition during training camp to determine their Week 1 starter, with Cousins and Mendoza both vying for the job.

The takeaway

The Raiders' signing of veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins adds an experienced option to their quarterback room, potentially complicating the path for rookie Fernando Mendoza to win the starting job. However, it also gives the team flexibility in how they approach the position, with Cousins' familiarity with the offensive coordinator potentially giving him an edge to start the season.