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May 2, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs through a drill during a Rookie Minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images | Candice Ward-Imagn Images
The biggest question surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders’ 2026 season is and will continue to be when will rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza take over as the starting quarterback.
That query will hover over the franchise until the time its announced Mendoza, the No. 1 overall draft pick, takes over the offense.
There, of course, is a chance the Heisman Trophy winner will begin the season in Week 1 as the starter. However, both Raiders’ head coach Klint Kubiak and general manager John Spytek have publicly said, in a perfect world, a rookie quarterback would be given time to watch from the bench to start his career.
The fact that the Raiders signed veteran Kirk Cousins suggests that he will be the starter to begin the season as the starter.
There has been a lot of speculation by mainstream media that suggest the Raiders will wait until after their Week 13 bye to transition from Cousins to Mendoza. Part of that reasoning is because the Raiders have a rough stretch from Weeks 4-11 in which they play six teams that made the playoffs last season. Plus, they play four road games in November.
So, that speculation lends to Mendoza taking the field as the starter in December.
What are your thoughts?
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