The Las Vegas Raiders have officially made their decision at quarterback, and veteran Kirk Cousins will begin the 2026 NFL season as the team’s QB1.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that Cousins will start the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on September 13. The decision means Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will begin his NFL career on the bench.
While the decision had been expected throughout much of the offseason, the official announcement still creates a major NFL storyline.
Mendoza was selected first overall after winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Indiana to a national championship, but the Raiders believe Cousins gives them the best opportunity to start the season successfully.
Kirk Cousins Raiders QB1 Decision
Kirk Cousins entered training camp competing with rookie Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell for the starting quarterback position.
The Raiders did not immediately announce their QB1 during training camp, allowing all three quarterbacks to compete. Eventually, Cousins separated himself from the competition through his experience, command of the offense and strong offseason performance.
Kubiak praised Cousins after making the decision, saying the veteran had a very good offseason and training camp and had earned the opportunity.
Cousins also has an important advantage: familiarity with Kubiak’s offensive system.
The two previously worked together with the Minnesota Vikings. That relationship gives Cousins knowledge of Kubiak’s offensive concepts and terminology, which could help the Raiders avoid some of the growing pains normally associated with a new quarterback and coaching staff.
Why Raiders Chose Kirk Cousins
The biggest reason behind the decision is experience.
Cousins is entering his 15th NFL season and has already made 167 career starts. He has thrown for 44,700 yards and 298 touchdowns during his NFL career.
That experience is extremely valuable for a team beginning a new era.
The Raiders have a first-year head coach in Klint Kubiak, while their offense is also adjusting to a new system. Starting a veteran quarterback allows the team to focus on executing the offense instead of asking a rookie to learn everything at once.
Cousins also performed efficiently during the preseason.
In two preseason appearances with Las Vegas, he completed 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. His 76.5 percent completion rate gave the coaching staff another reason to trust him heading into Week 1.
Fernando Mendoza Will Start His Career on the Bench
The most interesting part of this decision is the impact on Fernando Mendoza.
Mendoza was selected No. 1 overall by the Raiders after an impressive college career. He won the Heisman Trophy and helped Indiana complete an undefeated national championship season before entering the NFL.
Normally, a player selected first overall is expected to immediately become the face of a franchise.
But Las Vegas is taking a different approach.
Instead of throwing Mendoza directly into the starting lineup, the Raiders want him to learn behind an experienced quarterback.
Mendoza showed both potential and rookie struggles during the preseason. He completed 25 of 45 passes for 240 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Raiders believe more development time can help him become better prepared for the speed and complexity of regular-season NFL football.
A Rare Situation for a No. 1 Pick
Mendoza’s situation is unusual because recent No. 1 overall quarterbacks have generally started immediately.
He will become the first quarterback selected No. 1 overall since Baker Mayfield in 2018 to begin the season without starting Week 1, assuming there are no changes before the opener.
That does not necessarily mean the Raiders have lost confidence in Mendoza.
In fact, the opposite may be true.
Las Vegas appears to be protecting its long-term investment by giving Mendoza time to develop instead of forcing him onto the field before the coaching staff believes he is ready.
There are plenty of examples of successful quarterbacks who benefited from spending time behind veterans early in their careers.
The Raiders will hope Mendoza can follow a similar development path.
Kirk Cousins Has Something to Prove
Although Cousins brings experience to Las Vegas, he also has plenty to prove.
His final period with the Atlanta Falcons was inconsistent. He struggled during parts of the 2024 season before losing the starting job to rookie Michael Penix Jr.
However, Cousins performed better when he returned to the starting lineup following Penix’s injury. In eight starts last season, he threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Now he has another opportunity.
The Raiders are hoping the veteran quarterback can bring stability to an offense that is entering a new era.
If Cousins performs well, he could remain the starter longer than initially expected. If the Raiders struggle, however, pressure for Mendoza to take over will quickly increase.
Raiders vs. Dolphins in Week 1
Cousins’ first major test will come against the Miami Dolphins on September 13.
The game will be particularly interesting because it could provide an early indication of how competitive the Raiders can be under Kubiak.
Cousins does not need to put up spectacular numbers in Week 1. His primary job will be to protect the football, command the offense and give the Raiders a chance to win.
A strong start could give him confidence and potentially secure his position for several weeks.
A poor start, meanwhile, could lead to questions about when Mendoza should receive his opportunity.
How Long Will Kirk Cousins Remain QB1?
That is now one of the biggest questions surrounding the Raiders.
The team has clearly committed to Cousins for Week 1, but the long-term situation remains open.
Kubiak has not promised when Mendoza will take over. The coaching staff wants the rookie to continue developing and believes he can benefit from watching an experienced quarterback.
For Cousins, the message is simple: perform well and keep the job.
If he leads Las Vegas to wins, there may be little reason to make a change. But if the Raiders struggle, fans will inevitably begin asking whether it is time to unleash the No. 1 overall pick.
What This Means for the Raiders
The decision shows that Las Vegas is thinking about both the present and the future.
Cousins gives the Raiders an experienced quarterback capable of running Kubiak’s offense immediately. Mendoza represents the long-term future of the franchise.
That combination could work well if Cousins provides stability while Mendoza develops behind the scenes.
The Raiders also retained Aidan O’Connell, giving the team additional quarterback depth heading into the season.
For now, however, the quarterback job belongs to Cousins.
Final Thoughts
Kirk Cousins Raiders QB1 is now officially the story heading into Las Vegas’ Week 1 matchup with Miami.
The Raiders have chosen experience over immediate excitement, giving Cousins the starting job while Fernando Mendoza waits for his opportunity.
Cousins has the experience, familiarity with Kubiak’s system and a strong preseason behind him. Mendoza has the potential to become the franchise quarterback, but the Raiders believe he can benefit from watching before taking over.
The decision could look extremely smart if Cousins helps Las Vegas win early.
But if the veteran struggles, the pressure to put Mendoza on the field will grow quickly.
Either way, the Raiders’ quarterback situation will be one of the most fascinating NFL storylines to follow throughout the 2026 season.
