Raiders name Fernando Mendoza QB1 after Kirk Cousins trade - ESPN

HENDERSON, Nev. — The Fernando Mendoza era has begun in Las Vegas.

The 2026 No. 1 pick has been named the Raiders' starting quarterback after veteran Kirk Cousins was traded to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, general manager John Spytek announced.

Mendoza's first career start will be Sunday at home against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. This will be Mendoza's second appearance this season. He made his NFL debut late in a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards.

Spytek said Mendoza «passed every test.»

«It's something that he's worked very hard for since the moment he walked into this building,» Spytek said of Mendoza. «I want to stop short of saying he's earned it, but he put us in a position where we had to make a really hard decision today, with his growth as a person, as a teammate, as a leader, as a quarterback.»

Spytek said the move does not mean the Raiders, who at 4-5 are still in the playoff hunt, are punting on the season and looking ahead to 2027.

«That is not the intention of this,» Spytek said. «We have a big game this week against the defending world champs, and we intend to attack it like we would any week. That's expected of us.»

Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza «exceeded» the team's expectations during practice. While Mendoza waited his turn, he still carried himself as though he was the starter. He wore his helmet through the game and stood close to quarterback coach Mike Sullivan, reciting play calls that he heard through the headset device in his helmet.

Mendoza also spent late nights on the team's indoor practice field, going over the game plan.

Over time, Kubiak noticed Mendoza make improvements in his accuracy, command of the