It is hard enough to win in the NFL, but the Las Vegas Raiders have been trying to do so for years now without a viable quarterback in place. Ahead of the 2026 NFL season, new head coach Klint Kubiak believes that the team has three players capable of shouldering the load under center.
While it remains to be seen exactly how the trio of veteran Kirk Cousins, rookie No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and the middleman Aidan O'Connell will fare with a revamped offensive line and a scattered set of offensive weapons, the hope is that this room has a competent present and a bright future.
But what exactly can Raider Nation expect from this group of players with Week 1's game against the Miami Dolphins just days away? Well, let's preview the room as a whole, break it down by player, and make a bold prediction for each one of them.
Previewing Las Vegas Raiders' QB room ahead of 2026 season
Kirk Cousins
Cousins is the starter, at least for now, and as the elder statesman in the room, he is a de facto leader and sounding board for the other two. His history running coach Kubiak's offense gave him the upper hand all offseason, and he displayed in the preseason that he can run things at an effective level.
At 38 years old, Cousins' arm strength has waned quite a bit, meaning fans shouldn't expect him to be bombing the ball downfield or zipping it into tight windows. If there's a broken coverage or a receiver has a step on a player early, Cousins can convert on a big play, but that's about it.
More often than not, it stands to reason that Cousins will make the safe play, and there is nothing wrong with that. As the Raiders rely on the run, Cousins should be able to hit checkdowns and make obvious throws without putting it in harm's way, which will keep the offense moving.
On "got to have it" downs and situations, though, Cousins may not always be the guy who comes through. He doesn't throw with enough velocity anymore and didn't push the ball upfield much during the preseason, and what little mobility Cousins had is now gone after a recent Achilles tear at his age.
There won't be much, if any, scrambling and off-script playmaking by Cousins, nor will there be a lot of "wow" throws. Maybe on a few you'll wonder why he set up his receiver for a hospital ball, but other than that, expect fairly mundane quarterback play from Cousins. Fine, good, solid, but nothing crazy.
He won't really move the needle for the offense, but Cousins also won't tank the unit. Maybe he'll surprise us, but that could go either way.
Bold prediction: Cousins starts until at least the bye week.
Fernando Mendoza
Mendoza is the clear-cut No. 2, and he'll go in if Cousins gets banged up or if the product on the field looks bad enough that the fanbase and organization decide it is time for a change. Once Mendoza goes out there, it's on; there is no turning back the clock or putting the toothpaste back in the tube.
In a way, Mendoza is the opposite of Cousins. Yes, they have very similar mannerisms and approaches to the game, their builds are comparable, etc. But Mendoza is the fearless youngster with a big arm and mobility who just doesn't quite have NFL concepts and playbooks mastered yet.
Now, Mendoza didn't air it out downfield during the preseason at all, but he lasered some passes into tight windows for solid gains in key situations for the offense. And when things broke down, as they often did with the second-teamers, Mendoza was able to do the job himself with his legs.
One of the biggest surprises was how comfortable he looked under center, and how frequently he was able to successfully target the middle of the field. Those were two big question marks about him during the pre-draft process, and he has dispelled them in the early going.
During the three-game exhibition slate, Mendoza obviously made some mistakes, throwing a handful of interceptions and making a few errant throws. It was clear that he didn't quite have the same level of understanding as Cousins when it came to the timing of the offense.
But he worked through his progressions well, was poised in the pocket and made several throws that rallied the troops. He would have higher highs than Cousins, but perhaps lower lows as well, at least to start. That is the give and take of a young quarterback with a high ceiling.
Some adjustments need to be made to his footwork in the pocket, sure, but Mendoza could run an NFL offense right now. And it may not be long until the leadership in Las Vegas calls on him to do so.
Bold prediction: Mendoza starts before November.
Aidan O'Connell
O'Connell is what he is, which is a fine backup quarterback in this league. But he's in a precarious position in Las Vegas, as he is neither the present nor the future. And it wouldn't surprise anyone, even those in the building, if he searches for greener pastures next offseason.
In the meantime, though, O'Connell will be the emergency third-string quarterback on game days, and he'll prepare the first-team defense as the scout quarterback. That is an important role, and he may very well be one of the very best No. 3s in the whole league. Hopefully, it never comes to that.
On the field, O'Connell has an unremarkable arm, even if he can make a lot of throws necessary for a quarterback. He isn't afraid to push the ball upfield, but his inconsistent placement, even in the preseason against backups, calls that ability into question if he were put into a regular season game.
The good news about O'Connell is that he knows his own limitations, and he doesn't turn the ball over too often by trying to get creative. He is immobile and typically gets rid of the ball quickly to avoid sacks, as he is highly intelligent and has been around long enough to know NFL offenses very well.
If he were thrust into action, it may not be pretty for the Raiders, but O'Connell can execute concepts well enough to avoid disaster, and with a good play-caller in Kubiak, Las Vegas may be able to piece together a scoring drive or two. But let's not expect too much out of him after a spotty summer.
Somehow, O'Connell always finds his way onto the field for the Silver and Black; the guy is inevitable. But I don't see that happening this year - at least I hope not - because that means something has gone wrong with Mendoza.
Bold prediction: O'Connell doesn't play a single snap in 2026.
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