Established veteran Kirk Cousins, whom the Raiders signed this April, is tightening his grip on the quarterback position in the Las Vegas Raiders. And hopes of starting this season are fading for rookie Fernando Mendoza, their No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.

The veteran's impressive offseason play has raised his chances of becoming QB1. Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, Cousins talked about how to compete with another talented QB who was also 15 years younger.

"You go out there, you play the best you can, you help your team best you, and you know, contribute to our team success, and you let the decisions get made as they get made," Cousins said on June 24. "But I expect to, you know, be able to help this team win and to be out there on the field and roll with whatever happens."

Cousins also appreciated the new HC Klint Kubiak's approach on The Rich Eisen Show. The 37-year-old veteran emphasized the team's discipline, stating that the coaching staff has established its offensive system.

“I told him after OTAs, ‘Coach, this is probably the most urgent and most productive OTAs I’ve ever been a part of,'” Cousins said. “He created a sense of urgency from day one, all the way through the 10-week program, and I thought we got a lot of work done. We’ve got a long way to go, but we laid a good foundation.”

Cousins has earned four Pro Bowl selections and more than 42,000 career passing yards. Moreover, he has worked with (now HC) Klint in the past as a quarterback coach and as offensive coordinator during his time with the Minnesota Vikings.

This foundation gives Las Vegas confidence in an offense led by Cousins, while giving standout rookie Mendoza additional time to develop.

Mendoza entered the NFL after a great college season where he led Indiana to a national championship, won the Heisman Trophy, and became the Raiders' first overall selection. But he has experienced a lot of growing pains during offseason practices.

Raiders have stressed that there is no urgency to rush Mendoza onto the field. He is expected to learn from Cousins while benefiting from his experience.

Although Mendoza is the franchise's QB of the future, Cousins' offense and productive offseason have made him the favorite to start Week 1.

Kirk Cousins faces a limited window to cement the Raiders' legacy before Fernando Mendoza steps in

Kirk Cousins is currently focused on building a productive offseason under the new coaching staff. However, according to Fernando Alfaro-Donis of Sports Illustrated, the veteran's long-term future with the Raiders is far from guaranteed.

"It's only a matter of time before Mendoza is given the start over Cousins, which means the time for Cousins to make a good impression in Las Vegas is already running out," wrote Alfaro-Donis. "He's only under contract with the Raiders until 2027, so next season may be the last time he's given a starting opportunity."

With Fernando Mendoza seen as the franchise's future, Cousins has less time to prove he can lead the Raiders back into playoff contention before the franchise moves on.

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit