Cousins & Mendoza: Raiders' QB Battle Heats Up

0:00It's April 9th. This is NFL News today, powered by AI tracking teams, players, and standings. Kurt Cousins, the 37-year-old veteran with 167 career starts, just laid it out straight at his intro presser with the Las Vegas Raiders. He told new offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak that he wants to keep starting, but only if he's the best option for the team. No ego here, just team first. Earlier this week, Cousins emphasized his role in bringing leadership to the locker room, as Kubiak kicks off his first year calling plays. The Raiders hold the number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and is looking like Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who went. Undefeated, snagged the Heisman, and delivered the Hoosiers their first national title. Fans and analysts are buzzing about the potential QB battle, with Cousins praising Mendoza's character after their pre-draft meeting on April 7th. The same day all season camp opened. The Michigan State alum watched him in Big Ten Action, and noted the kid's natural feel

1:02for the position at just 22 years old. Recent developments show Kubiak leaning toward letting rookies develop behind vets in an ideal setup, putting Cousins as the early favorite to start. Mendoza's got that prospect shine, but climbing to Cousins NFL level won't happen overnight. As the Raiders gear up to build around this duo, expect that competition to heat up and push everyone higher.