The Las Vegas Raiders have to be excited about the 2026 NFL Draft. Las Vegas holds the first overall pick, which they will almost certainly use on Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza. New Raiders QB Kirk Cousins dropped a strong take on Wednesday that should have fans even more excited about next season.
Cousins seems well aware of the situation he’s getting himself into in Las Vegas.
The veteran QB revealed on Wednesday that he told head coach Klint Kubiak that “the best player needs to play” at quarterback in 2026. Even if the answer is Mendoza.
“If that’s not me, I don’t want to be out there,” Cousins said per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. “I don’t think that’s the best thing for the team. If I am the best option, then I believe it’s important that those guys are out there. …But I’m excited to get the chance to lead, help influence in the locker room, do my part and most importantly, help our team win.”
Cousins famously joined the Falcons in 2024 without knowing the team would draft Michael Penix Jr. in the first round. But the veteran quarterback understands that the Raiders want Mendoza to be the future of the organization. He does not want to stand in the way of that.
Cousins noted that he has watched some of Mendoza’s tape. He endorsed the Heisman Trophy winner and believes he has a natural feel for the quarterback position.
“At his stage, he’s much ahead of me,” Cousins added.
The Raiders have seemingly solved their quarterback position ahead of the 2026 season by adding Cousins and (eventually) Mendoza.
It will be exciting to see how much improved quarterback play moves the needle for Vegas during the regular season.
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