The Raiders’ first unofficial depth chart has delivered the clearest sign yet about where things stand in their quarterback competition: Kirk Cousins is sitting at No. 1, and Fernando Mendoza is listed behind him.
That’s the early message coming out of Las Vegas after Monday’s release, even with training camp still in its opening stretch and head coach Klint Kubiak not yet naming a Week 1 starter. Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, is currently slotted as the backup, with Aiden O’Connell at No. 3 and Jacob Clark at No.
- O’Connell has 17 starts for the Raiders over the last three seasons, while Clark arrived as an undrafted free agent from Missouri State.
The setup has made the quarterback room one of the most closely watched parts of camp ever since the Raiders signed Cousins shortly after drafting Mendoza. Cousins, a 14-year veteran, instantly brought a veteran presence to a room featuring a rookie who is 15 years younger, and the move raised the obvious question: was Las Vegas bringing in a starter, or a mentor?
For now, the depth chart points toward Cousins handling the top job. He’s taken the bulk of the first-team reps and has the obvious edge in experience, which makes the current ordering easy to understand.
Still, Mendoza has started to make his case.
Over the last few practices, he’s connected on touchdown passes to Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker and has distributed the ball to the rest of the receiving group. He also completed five straight throws during a two-minute drill, finishing the sequence with a field goal for his offense.
Mendoza’s camp has not been perfect from the start, though the signs have improved. Sam Warren of The Athletic reported last week that Mendoza “started a bit slow but got better as practice progressed,” and noted that the former Hoosier threw multiple red-zone touchdowns in a goal-line drill.
Jesse Merrick also reported that Mendoza has flashed with tight-window throws and appears to trust his arm. At the same time, he’s kept the ball moving safely and hasn’t forced many passes, a trait that could matter plenty in Kubiak’s offense, where protecting the football will be a priority.
The next chance to see how this battle develops comes in preseason action, beginning Thursday, August 13 against the Cardinals. Mendoza should get plenty of reps there, giving the rookie more chances to close the gap on Cousins.
For now, though, the depth chart says what camp has hinted at: Mendoza is chasing. The race is still alive, and there’s a long way to go before the Raiders open the season against the Dolphins on September 13. But at this moment, Cousins looks like the man to beat.
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