Overview
- The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza first overall in April and signed veteran Kirk Cousins as a short-term starter, with coaches publicly favoring a measured development plan for the rookie.
- The club entered pads-on training camp on July 17 expecting Cousins to start Week 1, making live practice and preseason game reps the immediate milestones that could accelerate Mendoza’s promotion.
- Minority owner Tom Brady and Mendoza himself have said the rookie must "earn" the job, with Brady urging a cautious approach because Mendoza has not yet taken NFL regular‑season snaps.
- NFL insiders including Mike Florio warn that if Mendoza clearly outperforms Cousins in camp, keeping the veteran as the starter could create locker-room credibility issues and pressure on coach Klint Kubiak.
- Reporting shows Mendoza took mostly rookie reps in spring work and reportedly struggled against the first‑team defense late in OTAs, so his performance in August preseason games will shape the Raiders’ timeline and roster decisions.