Kirk Cousins won the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting quarterback job over rookie Fernando Mendoza ahead of Week 1. (Image via Getty)
Head coach Klint Kubiak named the 38-year-old starter over No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza for Sunday’s opener against the Miami Dolphins. Cousins averaged 2.32 seconds to throw, according to TruMedia. That ranked third among quarterbacks with at least 10 attempts and came well below last season’s 2.76-second league average. That difference could be important for an offense that allowed an NFL-high 64 sacks last season. He averaged only 2.9 air yards per attempt during the preseason. Just one of his 17 passes traveled at least 10 yards downfield, according to The Athletic. Kubiak oversaw a passing attack that recorded 57 completions of at least 20 yards While running Seattle’s offense in 2025. The Seahawks also tied for the NFL lead with 12 receptions of at least 40 yards. Sam Darnold averaged 7.8 air yards per attempt.
Cousins earned the job through his command, experience and ability to operate Kubiak’s offense quickly, according to The Athletic’s Sam Warren. “It’s less important to me than what you do after that first snap,” Cousins said, according to The Athletic. “Complete the football, get us into the right plays, get us out of bad plays, don’t make bad plays worse,” Janocko said. “He’s going to get us in the right checks,” Mayer said.
The question is how long those strengths can outweigh what Mendoza offers physically. “I think it’s all about this entire season and winning the long game, and not just about the start of the season. “I don’t think the blueprint has ever changed with the way we ask our quarterbacks to play. Cousins’ quick decisions can reduce how long the offensive line has to protect him. “He’s going to get us in the right formations. That’s what I expect out of him. I think that’s what everybody expects out of him in this locker room.