Here's what Kirk Cousins had to say about the Raiders QB competition, according to the wiki (from the article Kirk Cousins Gives True Thoughts on Raiders QB Competition):
- On the OTAs themselves: Cousins called them "probably the most urgent and most productive OTAs I've ever been a part of" in his 15-year career.
- On HC Klint Kubiak: He praised Kubiak's intensity, conviction, and ability to create clarity about expectations — even though Kubiak is a quieter coach.
- On the plan moving forward: He noted the 10-week foundation they'd built and said he expects training camp to "pick it up and continue to get ready."
- On his mindset: Rather than treating it as a tense battle, Cousins seems entirely bought-in as the bridge starter. He has prior experience with Kubiak (two years as QB coach, one as OC), so he's comfortable in the Shanahan system.
The bottom line from the wiki: Cousins is the clear frontrunner to start Week 1 against Miami. The Raiders are being explicit about taking a patient approach with rookie Fernando Mendoza — Tom Brady (minority owner) has said forcing young QBs to play early is "a tragedy." So Cousins isn't just competing; he's the planned starter while Mendoza develops.