A former NFL general manager believes the Las Vegas Raiders cannot start Fernando Mendoza right away and believes they will need to sign a veteran quarterback to lead the offense as early as 2026. And he has a specific player in mind.
Although there are a lot of rumors about which players teams will take in Round 1 of next month's NFL Draft, one thing is certain. The Raiders will use the No. 1 overall selection on Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, and he will be their starting QB immediately. Or maybe not.
There is always a risk in thrusting a rookie signal-caller into a starting role for an NFL team. Especially one that had the worst record in the league last year. That's why ESPN NFL expert Mike Tannenbaum believes Mendoza should begin his career as a backup and Kirk Cousins should be the Raiders' starting QB in Week 1.
"I would sign Kirk Cousins. I think he's the ideal bridge quarterback to Fernando Mendoza," he said on Friday Morning Edition. sports center. "We know they've got Tyler Linderbaum, but their offensive line gave up more sacks than any team last year. Why not go out and bring in a veteran like Kirk Cousins to stabilize the position?
"Bring Mendoza on slowly. Don't play him from day one, because, remember, quarterbacks are often ruined before they even get going."
Why should the Raiders sign Kirk Cousins?
While Raiders fans may not be thrilled with the idea of Cousins being their starting QB in Week 1, Tannenbaum's point makes a lot of sense. Mendoza is a good QB prospect. However, he is not a generational talent, and many experts believe he will not be the first or even second QB selected in next year's draft.
Las Vegas needs to be smart with his development and do everything possible to ensure he can succeed when handed the keys to the offense. While Linderbaum will certainly make the offensive line better next season, this is still a messy group that could be a big loss for the developing QB prospect.
Cousins is a far cry from the Pro Bowl-level player he used to be and was a role model himself in Atlanta. But he's still a good player at the position and has the experience to handle the shortcomings of playing behind an average offensive line. Mendoza still needs to learn those skills. He should not achieve them in a litmus test situation during his rookie season.
Plus, the Raiders have the money to sign Cousins, and he's looking for a chance to start this season. If it's better than expected, great. But if he disappoints, let Mendoza take his place and have a lot more information and preparation when that moment comes.
