Hoosier legend and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza is preparing for his first NFL regular season game. However, he won't be the Raiders' starting quarterback. Las Vegas has decided to begin the new season with Mendoza on the bench, giving the starting nod to Kirk Cousins for this Sunday's Week 1 matchup against the Dolphins.
The move doesn't necessarily come as a surprise, as Raiders GM John Spytek has been adamant about not rushing the young gunslinger into anything early on in his career. Instead, the Raiders want to give Mendoza some time to develop before making him their QB1. In that plan, three players will play a huge part in Mendoza's development in Las Vegas.
3 players who play the biggest roles in Fernando Mendoza's NFL development
Without a doubt, the most impactful player playing a part in Mendoza's NFL development comes in the form of Kirk Cousins. A 14-year NFL veteran, Cousins has seen it all throughout his career. In total, he's played in 174 games and thrown for 44,700 yards and 298 touchdowns. Watching a guy with that much experience operate day-in and day-out can be extremely valuable for a rookie QB.
Furthermore, Cousins already knows the system new Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak wants to run. Kubiak was Cousins' offensive coordinator with the Vikings for three seasons from 2019-21, which were some of Cousins' best seasons as a pro. In that span, the former Michigan State Spartan threw for 12,089 yards and 94 touchdowns with 26 interceptions. That familiarity could be especially valuable for Mendoza as he transitions from Indiana's system into Kubiak's offensive scheme.
Any incoming rookie wants to have a strong running game. The Raiders picked former Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty with the 6th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and wasted to time giving him plenty of opportunities as a rookie. Last year, Jeanty ran 266 times for 975 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is looking to take a big step forward during his sophomore campaign behind a much-improved offensive line. If that happens, the Raiders complimentary style of football could vastly help Mendoza once he gets this shot to play.
Mendoza isn't the type of quarterback who regularly throws 30+ times per game. At Indiana, Mendoza thrived when picking his spots and not forcing anything. A lot of that had to do with Indiana's offensive style and approach, but it's clear that Mendoza is a very methodical playmaker. Getting Jeanty going in 2026 is a big key to Mendoza's success. If not, the Raiders risk putting too much on Mendoza's shoulders early on, which makes for an extremely difficult task.
Along with a strong running game, every rookie QB needs a go-to receiver. For Las Vegas, that is superstar TE Brock Bowers. Bowers was the Raiders' first round pick back in 2024, and has already cemented himself as one of the NFL's best tight ends two seasons into his professional career. He has made the Pro Bowl in both seasons, despite playing just 12 games a season ago. Bowers has already racked up 176 catches for 1,874 yards and 12 touchdowns with the Raiders, and could be poised for huge numbers in Kubiak's system. When Mendoza gets the call, there's little doubt about who his top target will be.
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