Sports · American Football · 59 mins ago
Raiders may turn to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza if season slips
The Las Vegas Raiders drafted quarterback Fernando Mendoza first overall in 2026 and planned to let him develop behind veteran Kirk Cousins.
Mendoza, who is Cuban American, has spoken about the inspiration he drew from Hispanic football trailblazers Tom Flores and Jim Plunkett, who helped the Raiders win two Super Bowls.
He made his first meaningful appearance in a loss to the Patriots, completing six of eight passes for 48 yards in the fourth quarter.
He showed sound mechanics and decision-making, but played against backup defenders and was rarely pressured, so the game offered limited evidence of how he would handle tougher situations.
The Raiders are 3-3 after six games, and Cousins, 38, is viewed as a short-term option while Mendoza is expected to offer a possible long-term answer at quarterback.
If the season starts to slip, the team may turn to Mendoza as its starter.
The Las Vegas Raiders may start rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza if their season begins to slip.
Mendoza was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and the original plan was for him to sit behind Kirk Cousins.
He made his first meaningful appearance in a loss to the Patriots earlier this month, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards.
The Raiders were playing .500 football six games into the season, according to CBS Sports.
Mendoza has also spoken about the pride and pressure he feels as a Hispanic quarterback following trailblazers Tom Flores and Jim Plunkett.
- Who
- The Las Vegas Raiders and rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
- What
- The Raiders may turn to Mendoza as their starting quarterback if the season slips away. He was initially expected to sit behind Kirk Cousins.
- When
- Six games into the 2026 season; the articles were published on October 24, 2026.
- Where
- Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Why
- The Raiders may consider a change if their season begins to slip, after planning to give Mendoza time to develop behind Cousins.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mendoza, then in high school, researched Hispanic quarterbacks who had succeeded in the NFL.
The Raiders selected Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick.
Mendoza made his first meaningful appearance, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards against the Patriots.
CBS Sports reported that the Raiders were playing .500 football six games into the season and might turn to Mendoza if the season slipped.
- Draft position
- No. 1 overall pick in 2026
- Veteran quarterback
- Kirk Cousins
- First meaningful action
- Against the Patriots earlier this month
- Passing line
- 6 of 8 completions for 48 yards
- Season record
- .500 after six games
3 sources
What people are saying
To see that example [and] to know whatever I am doing, it is possible, meant a great deal to me.
It's a great sense of pride knowing that it's been done before and it can be done; winning a championship [while] being Hispanic as the focal point.
However, it's also a great deal of pressure, and that's something I take upon myself whenever I make decisions.