The Seahawks are heading into Week 10 with a new face waiting on the other sideline.
Just hours before the trade deadline, the Las Vegas Raiders sent Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, clearing the way for Fernando Mendoza to make his first career start. The No. 1 overall pick and reigning Heisman Trophy winner now takes over the Raiders offense, and his first assignment comes against Seattle.
That’s a tough spot for a debut. The Seahawks are coming off a second straight game against a quarterback making his first start of the season, and they handled the last one just fine. Gardner Minshew got the nod for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9, but Seattle’s defense kept things under control in a 17-3 win.
Las Vegas had leaned on Cousins through most of the season, and the veteran did plenty of heavy lifting. The Raiders opened 3-0, then dropped six of their next seven, though Cousins wasn’t the reason the season went sideways. In nine games, he threw for 2,340 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Now he’s off to a Vikings team sitting at 6-2 and looking to push toward the playoffs. That move doesn’t change Seattle’s schedule, since Minnesota won’t face the Seahawks this season.
For Seattle, the timing of the trade makes this matchup look a lot more manageable. A win would move the Seahawks to 6-4 heading into their Week 11 bye.
Still, they can’t treat Mendoza like a throwaway opponent. He’ll have a game plan built by former Seattle offensive coordinator and current Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak, which gives Las Vegas at least one real edge to work with.
The Raiders will host the Seahawks on Sunday at 1:05 pm PT at Allegiant Stadium. The game will air on CBS and can be streamed on the Paramount Plus app.
In Other News...
Seahawks May Be Forcing A Receiver Move They Do Not Need
The Seahawks are still poking around for receiver help, but the search says as much about the roster as it does about the market. Seattle is reportedly looking for a pass catcher who can complement Jaxon Smith-Njigba, ideally someone with a different skill set and a contract that fits a tight cap situation. Adonai Mitchell, Quentin Johnston and DeVaughn Vele have all come up as possible trade targets, which tells you the front office is at least canvassing options even if nothing is close.
Still, there is a fair amount of skepticism around whether Seattle actually needs to force the issue. The offense already leans in a certain direction, and the current receiver room has enough pieces to make a move feel more like a luxury than a necessity. With limited cap space shaping the conversation, the bigger question may be whether the Seahawks can find a deal that makes enough sense to justify changing the mix at all. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Catch A Huge Break In Week 10
A late quarterback shakeup in Las Vegas has given Seattle a very different look at its Week 10 opponent. The Raiders sent Kirk Cousins to Minnesota shortly before the trade deadline, and with the move came a clear shift toward rookie Fernando Mendoza taking over as the starter for the rest of the season.
For the Seahawks, the change has already rippled into the betting market ahead of the matchup. Any time a team is preparing for a rookie quarterback instead of a veteran, the preparation changes a little, and Seattle now gets a chance to study a new face under center as it builds toward a game that suddenly feels more favorable. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Face A Deadline Choice That Could Split Fans
The Seahawks already made one notable move by bringing in Quenton Nelson, but the bigger roster questions may not come until the 2026 NFL trade deadline. With the front office still weighing how aggressive to be, the conversation has turned to whether Seattle should keep adding around its core or use the market to reshape the roster in a bigger way.
Among the possibilities being floated are a quarterback swap that would send Sam Darnold to the Vikings for draft capital, along with potential help on defense and at tight end. Jermaine Johnson and Dallas Goedert have both surfaced as names to watch, but for now those ideas remain just that, which leaves Seattle fans debating whether the team should chase immediate upgrades or preserve flexibility for whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]