Cousins opens Raiders camp as starter over Mendoza

Mendoza's rookie deal is fully guaranteed at $57.2 million

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 281 min read

"Tom Brady knew that he wanted a veteran to start the season to take the pressure off Fernando Mendoza." @AdamSchefter Via @ESPNNFL on X

What happened: Tom Brady wanted a veteran to begin the season so Fernando Mendoza would not face immediate pressure, Adam Schefter said. The No. 1 overall pick will start camp in a developmental role behind Kirk Cousins.

Why it matters: The plan gives Las Vegas a veteran bridge while protecting its long-term investment at quarterback. Cousins' early performance will help determine how quickly Mendoza competes for regular-season snaps.

By the numbers: Cousins enters his 15th NFL season. Mendoza completed 691 of 1,008 passes for 8,247 yards, 71 touchdowns and 22 interceptions across 36 college games.

What to watch: First-team rep distribution and any movement in the depth chart will be the next indicators before Week 1.

Sources

@ESPNNFL 2026-07-28T21:15:04.399260+00:00

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NFLAnalysisLas Vegas RaidersFernando MendozaKirk Cousins

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