Silver And Black Pride on Kirk Cousins

Cousins named Raiders starter over rookie Mendoza; Week 1 win validates Kubiak's QB call

Kirk Cousins has been named the Raiders' starting quarterback over promising rookie Fernando Mendoza (No. 1 overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft). The 38-year-old veteran's selection is validated by his built-in familiarity with head coach Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, and offensive line coach Rick Dennison, elevating offensive expectations. A Week 1 win against Miami validates Kubiak's decision to start Cousins rather than throw Mendoza into the fire early; however, one poor Cousins performance could trigger fan demand for Mendoza to become the starter, especially with the home opener and high fan expectations.

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