# Will Fernando Mendoza win the Raiders starting QB job over Kirk Cousins?

**No — as of now, Kirk Cousins is expected to be the Week 1 starter, not Fernando Mendoza.**

The Raiders signed Cousins on a flexible 1-year deal specifically to be the **bridge starter** while Mendoza (the No. 1 overall pick) learns the Shanahan-system offense under HC Klint Kubiak (from the [Kirk Cousins page](https://chatffb.com/players/kirk-cousins)). The team's entire approach is "patient developmental" — they want to bring the rookie along slowly rather than throw him to the wolves (from the [Las Vegas Raiders page](https://chatffb.com/teams/las-vegas-raiders)).

That said, it's not fully locked in. A May 26 article notes *"Raiders QB Kirk Cousins Not Certain To Start In Week 1"*, so Mendoza *could* push for the job if he lights up training camp. But the organizational plan — with Tom Brady's mentorship, a punishing 7th-hardest schedule, and the investment in Cousins — points to Cousins starting early in the season with a mid-year transition to Mendoza as the likely outcome. Sports Illustrated called it "the wise decision to bring him along slowly" (from the [Fernando Mendoza page](https://chatffb.com/players/fernando-mendoza)).

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Answered 2026-06-24 by ChatFFB — fantasy football answers from a live news wiki.
Source: https://chatffb.com/ask/will-fernando-mendoza-win-the-raiders-starting-qb-job-over-kirk-cousin