College football star Fernando Mendoza is the presumptive number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Las Vegas Raiders are already setting him up for success.
On Thursday, the Raiders revealed that the AFC team is bringing in Kirk Cousins for the 2026 NFL season. However, the move for the veteran quarterback is carefully positioning the franchise to prepare for the upcoming draft.
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Former NFL linebacker Manti Te’o believes that the addition of Cousins gives Las Vegas more stability as Mendoza prepares to make the leap to the next level. During “Good Morning Football,” Te’o and the cast broke down what the Raiders are building ahead of the 2026 season.
“I don’t even think I can summarize how great of an advantage it is for this young man”
Manti sees the impact Kirk Cousins can have on the potential number 1 pick in Fernando Mendoza 🏴☠️ pic.twitter.com/0abuP0XnyH
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) April 3, 2026
The Raiders have struggled to find continuity at the quarterback position over the years. That includes last season when the franchise experimented with current New York Jets signal caller Geno Smith.
However, Te’o and Co. are clearly high on co-owner Tom Brady’s plans to rebuild the quarterback room in Las Vegas.
“I don’t even think I can summarize how great of an advantage it is for this young man,” Te’o said during Friday’s “Good Morning Football” episode.
Will Mendoza start for the Raiders in 2026?
Cousins is well-liked within NFL circles and his new contract with the Raiders gives the team flexibility. Some Raiders fans will likely want to see Mendoza on the field immediately.
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Las Vegas is in a position where they can let the former Indiana star learn in Year 1 from the veteran.
Brady is the perfect example of this scenario, despite being drafted much later by the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick and Co. continued with Drew Bledsoe behind center until a brutal injury sent Brady into action.
Fernando Mendoza participates in Indiana Hoosiers Pro Day before the 2026 NFL Draft.
The beauty of the situation that Las Vegas is creating is that they aren’t tied to Mendoza or Cousins for the first game of the 2026 season.
Cousins is a capable veteran that can lead the team for the entire year if the franchise feels that the former Hoosiers star benefits from learning from the sidelines. However, Mendoza could easily step in as well if Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak sees positive signs.
Brady’s behind-the-scenes help will likely play a major role as well given his NFL pedigree and countless Super Bowl championships.