The Las Vegas Raiders seem content with the idea of starting either Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza in Week 1. Cousins is the proven veteran who knows the offense, while Mendoza is the exciting rookie with big-time potential.
The Raiders may be favoring starting Cousins. It’d allow them more time to develop Mendoza and see if the offensive line is capable of protecting him.
Plus, with running back Ashton Jeanty possibly missing time due to an ankle injury, it might be more appealing to start Cousins now. However, the Raiders have three capable quarterbacks on the roster right now.
Even third-stringer Aidan O’Connell is capable of starting if necessary. What hasn’t been talked about much is what if a team is willing to trade for Cousins. If that were to happen, the Raiders could weigh getting an asset vs. starting a stopgap quarterback for a few games.
The Cleveland Browns just announced that Deshaun Watson will be their starting quarterback this season, but many aren’t buying that he won because he’s actually still good at playing quarterback. It may be hard to justify starting Shedeur Sanders over a quarterback making so much money, but Cousins would be an easier sell.
Former NFL strategy and analytics coach Ryan Paganetti believes that the Browns should make an offer to the Raiders.
“I would consider calling the Raiders and offering something for Kirk Cousins,” Paganetti wrote.
How Much Would Cousins Demand in a Trade?
The Raiders aren’t going to be too keen on trading Cousins. Even if he doesn’t start, he’s a valuable resource for Mendoza. The Raiders aren’t going to shop him, so it’s going to take a team making a compelling offer.
The Browns might not be in a position to give up assets, but if a team gets desperate enough, it would be interesting to see what the Raiders could get for Cousins. Anything more than a fourth-round pick is likely too much, as he’d only be a one-year rental.
Raiders Don’t Want to Rush Mendoza Onto Field
A Cousins trade before the season is very unlikely unless the Raiders change course and start Mendoza in Week 1. Right now, it doesn’t sound like that’s the plan.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Raiders want to make sure that they’re setting Mendoza up for success first.
“What [the Raiders] want to do is bring Mendoza along while Kirk Cousins starts, while they make sure the roster is sound around him by the time they do put him in,” Graziano said on “Get Up.” “Everyone knows he’ll play eventually. When I talked to Kirk Cousins at Raiders camp a couple weeks ago, he said, ‘I’m going to hold him off as long as I can.’ So everybody knows the situation, but they want to start the season with Kirk Cousins as their starter, and they don’t want to put Mendoza into a game until they believe he’s ready and that the group around him is ready for him.”
Mendoza is the future for the Raiders, but there’s no need to rush him onto the field.
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