# What did Kirk Cousins say about the Raiders QB competition?

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.

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Answered 2026-06-27 by ChatFFB — fantasy football answers from a live news wiki.
Source: https://chatffb.com/ask/what-did-kirk-cousins-say-about-the-raiders-qb-competition