The Raiders (unsurprisingly) spent the first pick of the draft on Fernando Mendoza, but will he be the starting quarterback when the season gets underway?
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the plan for now is that Kirk Cousins will start the season at the top of the Raiders’ depth chart and Mendoza will be given time to develop on the sideline.
“Do not expect [Mendoza] to play early. The most likely scenario for the Raiders [is] Kirk Cousins is their starting quarterback to begin this season,” Rapoport said on Thursday night.
“Klint Kubiak believes that is the way to have long-term success, so likely Cousins early and hopefully throughout the season.”
Rapoport mentioned Kubiak as one of the driving forces behind the idea of Cousins starting, but Tom Brady has talked at length about the importance of allowing young quarterbacks time to develop at the NFL level before throwing them into the lineup.
Of course, it easy to project a starter in April, but if Mendoza outplays Cousins in OTAs and/or the preseason, will the decision makers in the Raiders’ building be inclined to stick with the plan?
There is a lot of time before a scenario like that could potentially play out, and for now it sounds like Cousins will be at the top of the depth chart… until he eventually isn’t.
x: @raidersbeat
If Mendozza is ready, play him. Peyton Manning said his 1st year of NFL struggles prepared him