Raiders Name Fernando Mendoza Starter After Cousins Trade; Spytek Says 'He Passed Every Test'
Las Vegas GM John Spytek confirmed the No. 1 pick will start Sunday against Seattle and said he never shopped Kirk Cousins before Minnesota called
Fernando Mendoza's time is now. Raiders general manager John Spytek confirmed Tuesday that the No. 1 overall pick is the team's starting quarterback going forward, hours after Las Vegas traded Kirk Cousins to the Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo relayed Spytek's case for the rookie.
#Raiders GM John Spytek on Fernando Mendoza: “He passed every test. I want to stop short of saying he’s earned it but he put us in a position where we had to make a really hard decision today (to trade Kirk Cousins) with his growth as a teammate? As a leader, as a quarterback.”View on X →
Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo): #Raiders GM John Spytek on Fernando Mendoza: “He passed every test. I want to stop short of saying he’s earned it but he put us in a position where we had to make a really hard decision today (to trade Kirk Cousins) with his growth as a teammate? As a leader, as a quarterback.”
Spytek also made clear the Raiders weren't looking to move their veteran. He said he spoke with Vikings GM Nolan Teasley on Tuesday morning and worked out the framework of the deal, and that while he fielded a few incoming calls, "I never made one call" to shop Cousins. That lines up with where things stood over the weekend, when the Raiders had received no inquiries and weren't looking to deal him. Spytek added that the move in no way means Las Vegas is punting on the season.
The decision closes a quarterback arrangement that held all year. Cousins signed a one-year deal as a bridge to Mendoza and was named the starter in camp, and through October the Raiders insisted there was no controversy. Cousins started all nine games, throwing for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Mendoza's only regular-season action came in the Week 5 loss at New England, when he completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards.
The timing is the test. Las Vegas is 4-5 after Sunday's 38-17 loss in San Francisco, still on the edge of the AFC playoff picture, and Spytek's comments frame Mendoza as the best path to staying there rather than a look ahead to 2027. His first start comes Sunday at Allegiant Stadium against the 5-4 Seahawks, with kickoff at 1:05 PM PT, followed by a trip to Denver.