Kirk Cousins

Raiders Sign No. 1 Pick Mendoza; Backup Plan

The Las Vegas Raiders plan to give first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza a chance to compete for the starting job, with a “sprinkling” of first-team reps in training camp while coach Klint Kubiak favors a gradual development path behind veteran Kirk Cousins. The team has kept Mendoza’s rookie contract discussions ongoing and signaled that Mendoza’s long-term potential matters more than an immediate Week One start, despite public expectations about his readiness and the backup role he might initially occupy.