The Raiders should use the next four games to prepare Mendoza for a late-season transition.
It’s tempting to start rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza after the Raiders’ fourth straight loss dropped them to 3-4. If this season is slipping away, why not give him experience that could help next year?
But deciding whether Mendoza should play this season isn’t the same as deciding whether he should start Sunday. The Raiders need to choose his debut based on his preparation—not their frustration.
The temptation recalls the Giants replacing quarterback Kurt Warner with rookie Eli Manning in 2004. For the Raiders, though, the question isn’t simply whether to give their rookie experience. It’s when to start—and what kind of situation they’d put him in.
That comparison should start a conversation, not settle it. The Raiders have to decide on Mendoza, not copy another organization’s decision for another quarterback. Playing the rookie is not a development plan by itself.
Fernando Mendoza (photo courtesy Yardbarker)
The Jets might look like an inviting first opponent. But the Raiders can’t view that game in isolation when the 49ers, Seahawks, and Broncos follow. Starting Mendoza on Sunday would mean asking him to navigate that stretch immediately afterward.
Make no mistake: Mendoza will play this year. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Monday that Mendoza will play at some point.
The Raiders should target Nov. 29 against the Browns in Cleveland. The final six games—against the Browns, Chargers, Broncos, Titans, Cardinals, and Chiefs—would let them evaluate Mendoza as he gains meaningful experience.
Starting quarterback Kirk Cousins shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for the losing streak. I’m not convinced the results would have been better with Mendoza. But at some point, the goal should be to give Mendoza meaningful opportunities to run the offense, not simply asking him to survive.
Those additional weeks need to serve a purpose. Mendoza needs to have a firmer command of the offense, a clear understanding of his responsibilities, and a full week of preparation as the starter before he takes over.
Waiting wouldn’t spare Mendoza from tough opponents. It would give him more time to prepare.
Patience should have a purpose. What does Kubiak want Mendoza to understand before taking over? What does the rookie still need to show? Those questions should guide the decision, not how loudly people demand a change after another loss.
Cousins gives the Raiders their best chance to navigate the next four games. That doesn’t mean I expect him to rescue their season. It means Kubiak should let this team compete before handing the offense to Mendoza. Kubiak owes it to the veterans to start the quarterback he believes gives them the best chance to win.
If the Raiders fall further out of contention, the case for sticking with Cousins becomes harder to make. At that point, the priority should shift toward preparing Mendoza for next season.
Mendoza and Cousins (photo courtesy of talkSport)
That would not mean asking Mendoza to prove everything in six games. I would want to see how he responds to mistakes, whether he applies what he learns, and how he handles the responsibility of leading the offense. The evaluation should be about progress, not just the final score.
A full season on the bench might have been the preferred path, with Mendoza competing for the starting job next year. Cousins has faced criticism, but changing quarterbacks wouldn’t automatically fix this offense’s problems.
A few relief snaps against the Rams would not have been the same as preparing Mendoza to take over. When the Raiders make the change, they should give him a full week as the starter and a clear opportunity to run the offense.
Fans are entitled to want a look at the future. The Raiders should want that look to tell them something useful. That is why the timing matters as much as the decision itself. Giving him a chance should mean more than changing the name on the lineup card and hoping for better results.
Mendoza’s time should come this season. But the Raiders need to choose that moment based on how prepared he is.
