Are the Raiders already playing it too safe? After drafting Fernando Mendoza in 2026, Las Vegas is reportedly leaning toward starting Kirk Cousins this season, a decision NFL insider Mike Florio believes deserves serious scrutiny.

During Pro Football Talk on NBC Sports, NFL insider Mike Florio criticized the Raiders' reported plan to sit Fernando Mendoza this season simply so he can observe Kirk Cousins and learn.

“We’ve a guy who we can all tell at every practice is better than Kirk Cousins as of right now, but you’ve got this plan that you’re going to groom Fernando Mendoza by having him not play, by deliberately choosing the lesser guy to be the quarterback. Good luck with that one, Klint Kubiak,” said Mike Florio.

The problem is the way Las Vegas operates: selling the same championship dream to the locker room every year.

So, Florio believes that choosing not to start Mendoza after his promising practice performance could make the locker room question the decision.

"When you're out on the practice field, if Mendoza is clearly better than Kirk Cousins...and you've got some grand strategic plan
that you're going to let him sit for a year, what's Maxx Crosby going to say about that? What's Brock Bowers going to say about that? What's any veteran player going to say?" NFL insider Mike Florio said on Pro Football Talk.

In late March, head coach Klint Kubiak, speaking to the media, said he would prefer Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback, indicating that he'd rather have Fernando Mendoza sit and learn from the veteran.

This remark sparked significant backlash from insiders, considering that Mendoza has shown immense promise during minicamp and OTAs.

As reported by ClutchPoints, Fernando Mendoza looked sharp during his dropbacks. He maintained consistent mechanics and a steady release on his throws. On top of that, he launched high-velocity, accurate throws on multiple routes.

What stood out was that, despite limited chemistry in a non-contact setting, the Raiders' passing game flowed smoothly with him under center.

His production and pace have been impressive, which is why Florio believes the decision to keep him on the bench throughout the season makes no sense.

Mike Florio isn't the only one backing Fernando Mendoza

While Mike Florio believes the Raiders should take a risk and let Fernando Mendoza play this season, NFL insider Ian Rapoport believes that if the rookie performs well early on, he could force the Raiders to make him their starting quarterback this season.

“We have seen this in the past, where [teams] have said, ‘We’re gonna sit this rookie, probably not going to play, he’s going to learn. ‘What if Mendoza hits the ground running so fast, and so well, that they say, ‘This guy has to play?” Rapoport said on the Insiders on NFL Network.

Mendoza spearheaded Indiana’s historic championship run by throwing for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions while completing 72% of his passes.

His production was enough to clinch the Heisman Trophy and a national title for his team.

Expectations are sky-high for him. But he'll have to prove himself first, and training camp will give him the chance to earn the starting quarterback job.

Should Klint Kubiak stick to his strategic plan, or are the Raiders wasting valuable time by benching their best-performing quarterback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by

Suryakant Das

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore