The Las Vegas Raiders are likely to draft former Indiana Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick on April 23 at the 2026 NFL Draft. Moreover, with Kirk Cousins already in the fold, the discussion will be what the Silver and Black should do at QB.
If the Raiders do select Mendoza, he will be the face of the franchise, which is why the team will handle his development with kid gloves and won’t push him out onto the field until the signal-caller is ready.
As a result, Las Vegas signed Cousins this offseason as a potential placeholder and veteran to show Mendoza the ropes. Despite the Raiders not yet making the decision, former NFL player Chad Johnson shared his thoughts on the looming Raiders situation.
“They’re going to pick Fernando Mendoza if you understand the game and understand that they are in need of a quarterback despite getting Kirk Cousins via trade, whatever it may have been,” Johnson told Vegas Sports Today on April 16. “Obviously, Kirk Cousins is probably going to be the starter.
“I would think it would be smart for the development of Fernando Mendoza instead of just throwing him out there to the wolves. There are so many pieces that the Raiders need to be a competent team, especially offensively. Heck, even defensively, just getting the right pieces in order so he can have success.”
Raiders Urged to Sit Fernando Mendoza If They Draft Him
Moreover, with so many of the great QBs needing to sit and learn from the sidelines, Johnson believes this is the best route for a young signal-caller, rather than putting him out on the field.
“I think it’s smart for him. Patrick Mahomes sat, Tom Brady sat, and I think the development of quarterbacks is one thing that is a lost gem when it comes to rookie quarterbacks,” Johnson added.
“They just throw them out there: ‘Hey, you’re our savior.’ And when you’re picked that early, it can do a lot to your psyche and your mental. When you put quarterbacks out there and you know you’re putting them in a situation that’s not to their advantage.”
John Spytek Comments on Las Vegas’ QB Situation
Las Vegas could be having a QB battle to determine their Week 1 starter, and the team’s general manager, John Spytek, wants it that way. In the offseason, the Silver and Black signed Kirk Cousins, and many expect the team to draft Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Although the team could take the cautious approach and have the veteran start Week 1, Spytek noted that while that’s the philosophy the Raiders appear to have with Cousins now in the fold, the way they intend to name a starting QB will be based on merit.
“Ultimately, this is a meritocracy, and the best guy will play,” Spytek told reporters on April 14. “It’s just really hard to play really well at a young age, but we’ve seen plenty of quarterbacks do it recently. You know how that goes going forward. Obviously, we added Kirk, we have Aidan [O’Connell], and we’ll see how it goes, but the best man will play.”
Chad Johnson Shares True Thoughts on Raiders’ QB Situation