Fernando Mendoza will officially start his rookie NFL season as a backup with the Las Vegas Raiders naming Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback for 2026.There is huge excitement around Mendoza making the step up into the NFL after he led the Indiana Hoosiers to the National Championship in the college game last season.But he is going to have to bide his time, a move that is clearly part of new head coach Klint Kubiak’s long-term plan for the Raiders.Speaking to reporters on Tuesday ahead of his team’s first training camp ahead of the new season, Kubiak confirmed that Cousins is his No. 1.’When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins the starting quarterback,’ Kubiak said. ‘He’s the guy.’He’s gonna get a ton of reps. He deserves it. He’s played really good football.’ Fernando Mendoza will officially start his rookie NFL season as a backup at Las Vegas Raiders The Raiders took quarterback Mendoza with the first pick of the 2026 NFL DraftAs for Mendoza, the message from Kubiak is clear – although he didn’t specify that the rookie is the No. 2 in his team.’I want Fernando and I want Aidan (O’Connell, the other quarterback on the roster) to push him. It’s important for me to be fair to the players and put the best player out there.’The Raiders are rebuilding after a catastrophic 2025 campaign where they finished with the worst record in the league which, in turn, gave them the chance to take Mendoza with the first pick.But after an overhaul led by minority owner Tom Brady, ambition for the AFC West team is a lot higher this time around. The 37-year-old Cousins is guaranteed $20million in 2026, while Mendoza recently signed his four-year, $57.27million fully-guaranteed rookie contract with the organization.But Kubiak and the Raiders have been clear that they want Mendoza to learn behind someone with the experience of Cousins. And if the veteran was to make a slow start, pressure could grow to see Mendoza introduced. A similar situation happened at the New York Giants last season, with Jaxson Dart dislodging a struggling Russell Wilson to become the starter.Kubiak impressed last year as the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks and the Raiders have recruited some big names in the offseason. Kirk Cousins will be the No 1 quarterback when the Raiders start the season in September The most eye-catching is center Tyler Linderbaum, who left the Baltimore Ravens and went into free agency before signing a three-year, $81m deal to join Kubiak in Sin City.They also kept hold of Maxx Crosby – after agreeing to trade their star defensive end to the Baltimore Ravens, the AFC North team backed out of the deal amid fears over his recovery from a minor knee procedure.Kubiak is optimistic that Baltimore’s loss will be his gain but if the Raiders stutter early in the season, those trade rumors will return. The Raiders start the season against the Miami Dolphins in Vegas on September 13 – and it’ll be Cousins leading the way.