The future has arrived in Las Vegas. After waiting his turn for half a season, the top pick in the draft is taking over.
Fernando Mendoza, the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, has been named the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting quarterback after the team traded veteran Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.
When will Fernando Mendoza start?
Mendoza will make his first career start Sunday at home against the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions. It is one of the toughest tests a rookie could face.
It will be his second appearance of the season. He made his NFL debut late in a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards.
The Raiders general manager said Fernando Mendoza passed every test and has worked hard since the day he arrived. He said he would stop short of saying Mendoza earned the job but that the rookie forced the team into a difficult decision with his growth as a person, teammate, leader and quarterback.
Are the Raiders giving up on the season?
No, according to the general manager. The Raiders, who have four wins and five losses, remain in the playoff hunt, and he said the team plans to attack Sunday’s game like any other.
He said the move is not about looking ahead to 2027 and that competing every week is expected. The Raiders received a pick in the third round in the trade, according to reports.
How did Fernando Mendoza earn the job?
The Raiders coach said Fernando Mendoza exceeded the team’s expectations in practice. While waiting his turn, he carried himself like a starter, wearing his helmet during games and standing near the quarterbacks coach to recite play calls he heard through his headset.
Mendoza also spent late nights on the team’s indoor practice field studying the game plan. The coach said he saw improvement in his accuracy, command of the offense, handling of the huddle and his work on drives at the end of halves.
The coach said Mendoza is ready mentally as well as physically, noting he was in the building Tuesday studying for Sunday’s game. His teammates know how prepared he is, the coach said.
Who is Fernando Mendoza?
Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy during his lone season at Indiana, throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing 72% of his passes. He led the Hoosiers to their first national title.
The Raiders believed his accuracy, athleticism and intelligence fit their offense but planned to be patient, starting the season with Cousins until the rookie was ready.
Mendoza, a Miami native, began his college career at California before transferring to Indiana.
What does the move mean for Kirk Cousins?
Cousins proved to be a solid placeholder, helping the Raiders surpass last season’s win total. In nine starts, he threw for 2,340 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
His final start came in Week 9, a 38 to 17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in which he threw three interceptions. Both the coach and general manager said moving on from Cousins was difficult because he helped build a new culture.
Cousins returns to Minnesota, where he played from 2018 to 2023, as the Vikings look to fix an offense that has struggled badly in recent weeks. Carson Wentz posted the worst quarterback rating of the season in Minnesota’s loss on Monday night.
For Fernando Mendoza, Sunday marks the start of what Las Vegas hopes will be a long run as its franchise quarterback. The team believes he is ready.
