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HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders named rookie Fernando Mendoza their starting quarterback Tuesday after trading Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick. Raiders general manager John Spytek announced the decision at a news conference with Raiders coach Klint Kubiak after the NFL trade deadline passed.
Mendoza, the first overall pick in April’s draft, will make his first career start Sunday when Las Vegas (4-5) hosts the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. His only regular-season action came late in a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, when he completed 6-of-8 passes for 48 yards.
Cousins started all nine of the Raiders’ games this season and threw for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. His final start for Las Vegas came in a 38-17 Week 9 loss at the San Francisco 49ers, when he completed 22-of-32 passes for 216 yards with three interceptions.
John Spytek, Klint Kubiak Name Fernando Mendoza Starter
Spytek and Kubiak met with reporters Tuesday afternoon at the Raiders’ headquarters in Henderson, about two hours after the deadline. Spytek said Mendoza “passed every test” and pointed to the rookie’s “growth as a person, as a teammate, as a leader, as a quarterback.”
Kubiak spoke at the same news conference.
“He’s prepared,” Kubiak said, “he practices extremely well and his work habits also allowed us to make this trade because we feel that he’s ready to go. And we’re excited for him to take the ball for the game here this Sunday.”
While backing up Cousins, Mendoza wore his helmet through games and stood near Raiders quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, reciting the play calls he heard through the headset in his helmet, ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reported. Mendoza also spent late nights going over the game plan on the team’s indoor practice field. He was in the building Tuesday studying for Seattle.
Kubiak said Mendoza’s teammates have seen his preparation show up on the practice field.
Mendoza’s First Start Comes Against Reigning Champion Seattle Seahawks
Mendoza arrived in Las Vegas after one season at Indiana, where he won the Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to their first national championship in 2025. He completed 72% of his passes that season for 3,535 yards and a nation-leading 41 touchdown passes.
Indiana beat Miami and quarterback Carson Beck in that title game. Beck will also make his first NFL start Sunday after the Arizona Cardinals placed Gardner Minshew II on injured reserve Tuesday.
Kubiak named Cousins the Week 1 starter in September. Mendoza opened the season as the backup, a plan Spytek said the team discussed with Mendoza during his predraft interview, according to ESPN.
Las Vegas hosts Seattle at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. CT on CBS.
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