The Las Vegas Raiders announced head coach Klint Kubiak named Kirk Cousins the Week 1 starting quarterback against the Miami Dolphins, which means top draft pick Fernando Mendoza will start his NFL career on the bench.
Why Cousins won the starting job
Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed the choice Wednesday, handing the opening-day duties to the veteran. Kubiak defended the move plainly: "Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it."
The Raiders signed Cousins this offseason to a five-year deal worth up to $172 million, a commitment that reflected the team’s willingness to bring in an established starter. The arrival of Cousins was discussed explicitly as part of the Raiders’ roster plan: Yahoo! News reported GM John Spytek brought Cousins in to serve as a bridge to the team’s future with Fernando Mendoza.
The decision also ends a recent pattern of No. 1 overall quarterbacks starting on opening day, with Cousins taking the field instead of the top pick.
Immediate implications for Fernando Mendoza and the Raiders
Kirk Cousins has been named the Raiders’ Week 1 starting quarterback, which means Fernando Mendoza — the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft — will begin his NFL career as a backup.
That placement preserves the rollout the organization has signaled publicly: a veteran presence to start the season while the highly drafted rookie adjusts to the NFL environment. For Week 1 the team has set a clear depth-chart order with Cousins starting.
For the Raiders, the move delivers an experienced passer under center for the opener and keeps the top pick available as they navigate the early weeks of the season. For Mendoza, the start-from-the-bench scenario sets expectations that his debut will be managed; the team’s commitment to Cousins’ contract and the coach’s endorsement of his camp performance create a defined short-term path for the offense.
Kubiak’s announcement and the roster moves lay out a straightforward Week 1 plan: Cousins will start in Miami, Mendoza will begin his career on the bench, and the team has a veteran starter in place as a bridge to the rookie prospect.
