Cousins Mentors Raiders' Top Pick Mendoza

0:00It's April 9th, NFL News Today starts now, AI powered and always on. Kurt Cousins just dropped the biggest non-secret in the league. The Las Vegas Raiders are locking in Indiana quarterback for Nando Mendoza with the number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Cousins spilled it straight up on NFL Network, saying Mendoza's a perfect fit for the squad. They already clicked hard back in April when Mendoza visited and they broke down filmed together. Cousins laid it out clear. No drama, he's all in on mentoring the kid until he's primed to take the reins. Fans and insiders are buzzing about Cousins owning his role like a pro, especially after that messy Atlanta Falcon saga. There, they inked him to a 4-year $180 million deal, then shocked him by grabbing Michael Pennex Jr. number one overall in. 2024. He felt blindsided but still built a solid bond with Pennex. Now in Vegas, everything's transparent from jump.

1:01Cousins told New Head Coach Clint Kubieck, the best player starts, period, he's cool stepping back if needed. At 37, posted Killy's tear, he posted a strong 10-5 touchdown to pick ratio late last season. Expect Cousins to kick off his starter while Mendoza builds up, but his grip on the job hinges on performance. Either way, he's geared to be that steady voice in the room, paving the smooth path forward for the Raiders' future.