Las Vegas Raiders earn praise for pre-NFL Draft Fernando Mendoza plans
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.
MORE: Jim Rome unleashes epic rant about NFL ‘knucklehead’ Puka Nacua 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.