Patrick Mahomes Has One Big Comparison for Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza-Kirk Cousins Duo

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes teases that Kirk Cousins is the right mentor for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Patrick Mahomes Has One Big Comparison for Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza-Kirk Cousins Duo

(L) Kirk Cousins and (R) Fernando Mendoza and Patrick Mahomes inside the circle (Image via FOX Sports/IMAGO)

Quarterbacks drafted first overall are usually expected to start games from week one. Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams, and Cam Ward debuted for their respective teams on day one. Fernando Mendoza has not started a game for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Before the 2026 campaign began, head coach Klint Kubiak made it very clear that Mendoza will not be the Raiders’ starting quarterback. That honor went to Kirk Cousins.

Cousins led the Raiders to three straight victories—the club’s first such start since 2021. In Week 4, the Raiders welcomed rivals the Kansas City Chiefs to Allegiant Stadium.

KC won thanks to another 100-yard game from running back and reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker. The Raiders accepted a hard-fought 30-27 defeat. Cousins completed 31 passes for 356 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who won his seventh game in Vegas, completed 50% of his passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns.

During the postgame presser, reporters asked Mahomes about the Raiders quarterback situation involving Cousins and Mendoza. The three-time Super Bowl champion teased that the Raiders are on the right track. Mahomes said:

It’s going to do a lot of great things for him. Kirk is a true pro. A quarterback who knows how to run the room, the team, everything the right way. He’s gonna do it the right way.

Like Mendoza, Mahomes sat on the bench and watched Alex Smith rip touchdowns during the 2017 season. Smith had his only 4000 yards season and a league-leading passer rating of 104.7. The following year, Smith moved to Washington, leaving Mahomes to assume the Chiefs QB1 job. Mahomes added:

It’ll be great for Fernando to learn and just take in, because you don’t know until you’re in the NFL. Hopefully not too much because it went really well for me and Alex, and hopefully maybe not that much unless I’m gone or something like that.

Mendoza won a National title in his final year with Indiana. He also edged out former Notre Dame and current Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love for the Heisman Trophy. The Raiders selected him first overall.

However, the Raiders brought in Cousins. He signed a five-year contract. Kubiak picked Cousins as the starter over Mendoza. Mahomes and Cousins have faced each other four times over the years. Mahomes is 4-0. Cousins, meanwhile, has never beaten the Chiefs in six tries.

Back in 2023, Mahomes and Cousins, along with Marcus Mariota, starred in the first season of Netflix’s limited series ‘Quarterback.” Cousins also returned in season 2.

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Kirk Cousins is the right mentor for Fernando Mendoza

Most quarterbacks selected first overall struggle to win games because they are thrust into the worst possible situation imaginable. Cam Ward is a great example.

Patrick Mahomes Has One Big Comparison for Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza-Kirk Cousins Duo
Kirk Cousins (Image via IMAGO)

Mendoza’s final year of college was impressive. But the NFL is a very different beast. The Raiders chose to have him learn from a seasoned pro like Cousins. Sure, Cousins CV doesn’t boast Hall of Fame numbers, but he’s a well-respected player. He has taken the rookie Mendoza under his wing while handling his QB1 duties. FOX Sports analyst Mark Schlereth quoted Kirk Cousins on the Rich Eisen Show:

The best thing I can do for Fernando Mendoza is play great and show him what an NFL offense is supposed to look like.

Across the first four weeks, Cousins has thrown 93 completions (64.6%) for 1023 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. Next week, the Raiders travel to Gillette Stadium to play the New England Patriots. Last year, the Raiders won this fixture on opening day. It finished 20-13.

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