Raiderstation

I don't love this. I get it, but I don't love it.

ALLRAIDERWORLD21 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:59 am Yeah, the last thing I want to see is Mendoza thrown into the fire, getting blown out and making rookie mistakes right out of the gate, while idiots like Dan Olovsky sit around and tell us “I told you so.” And for other Raiders fans who don’t know ball to flood social media posting that Mendoza is a bust after two games. Don’t need that shit right now, especially after recent history of the franchise and not in this day and age when everyone out there has is a couch and online GM.

I’m a huge fan of bringing Mendoza along slowly and building his confidence, it worked for Mahomes obviously.. And if the coaches think he’s ready to start day one, all the better.

Green Bay did the same with Rodgers and Love. It was the way they use to develop QB's all the time.

We are in the age of immediate satisfaction and it generally doesn't work.

Schefter's source for the signing was Cousins' agent. There are no financial details of the contract - if there's real money involved, the agent leaks information and so the lack of information indicates that it's really cheap.

NoClapsPlease wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:58 am Didn’t he allude to the idea that he ain’t interested in being a mentor to anyone?

When he was paid big bucks to be a starting QB and Atlanta took a QB with a first round pick. What do you want him to say? I am fine with just conceding my job? Pennix and Cousins had a good relationship and Pennix talked about how much Cousins helped him out. He mentioned time and again his respect for Kirk and all that Kirk has done for him. How he peppers Kirk with questions and that Kirk has such great insights. Kirk has talked about how much he enjoyed working with Pennix and what a sponge he was.

Hell Michael moved onto the same street as Kirk so they could workout together and talk more.

Attyla wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:38 am So, here are the positives for this signing:


And here are the negatives:
Selfish, me first guy who will offer up almost nothing to the rookie
Mediocre player
Will take snaps from the rookie
Will only hurt Mendoza's development
Will almost certainly start the season as our QB

Damn, I really did not want this guy

I hardly ever disagree with you, but do here.
1. Cousins most certainly was told (and likely understands) he's being brought in mentor Mendoza. Not only that, but having worked with Kubiak in Minnesota, there's familiarity with his system and will help to implement it here.
2. Mediocre? I mean, ok, maybe at this point in his career, but he certainly wasn't in Minnesota. Even so, he's instantly the best QB we've had since Carr.
3. Which allows Mendoza to join the long list of QBs to sit as rookies and go on to have fantastic careers.
4. See #1
5. See #3

BoKnows81 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:46 am Interesting. I had a feeling it would happen. I just wonder if Cousins starts and plays just good enough to have the Raiders in playoff contention, will we even f[raiders_icon]cking see Mendoza? Wtf. Im still betting on Mendoza starting week 1.

And no, Cousins isn't a f[raiders_icon]cking mentor.

Look at it this way, your boy AOC is probably axed with this move!

Attyla wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:59 am It does have to do with that ass clown.

Are you dragging Mark Davis into this convo ?

Guess Kubiak and Spy agreed with me about AO12. Hope his fans on here are ok with that lol.

Rabidraider wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:07 am Green Bay did the same with Rodgers and Love. It was the way they use to develop QB's all the time.

We are in the age of immediate satisfaction and it generally doesn't work.

Don't forget Brady, Mahomes, Palmer, Brees, Rivers...

How long until a talking head says this is an indication that we are not going to draft Mendoza, but trade the pick.

"This tells me the Raiders really don't think Francisco Mendoza is their guy. He is not franchise QB, like I have said. Look to them to make a trade with the Jets and and look to draft a QB next year when there will be 10 QB's better than Mendoza available." Dan O.

Two specific questions:

1. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever sat his entire rookie season? If so, please list.

2. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever not been QB1 on week 1? If so, please list.

haji81872 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:08 am When he was paid big bucks to be a starting QB and Atlanta took a QB with a first round pick. What do you want him to say? I am fine with just conceding my job? Pennix and Cousins had a good relationship and Pennix talked about how much Cousins helped him out. He mentioned time and again his respect for Kirk and all that Kirk has done for him. How he peppers Kirk with questions and that Kirk has such great insights. Kirk has talked about how much he enjoyed working with Pennix and what a sponge he was.

Hell Michael moved onto the same street as Kirk so they could workout together and talk more.

""Inside the Dynamic Between Falcons QBs Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins
Story by Ben Arthur

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When asked about the veteran he replaced as the Falcons' starting quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. didn’t hesitate to praise Kirk Cousins. There was no facade, just a response seemingly rooted in genuine appreciation.

"He’s definitely someone who I can ask questions to, and he’s always there," Penix said after Atlanta's joint practices with the Titans last week. "[He’s] quick to respond and give me his insight and what he’s seen in the past and how I can operate at a high level to go out there and be successful. So he’s been great not just for me, but for this team as well.

"He’s been a great leader."

If there’s awkwardness between Penix and Cousins, it’s not apparent in how they talk about each other. Cousins said during minicamp that the former first-round pick is poised to have a "great career" and that "he’s off to a great start." Last season, Penix acknowledged that Cousins "[could] do no wrong" in his eyes. The former Washington Huskies star found himself emulating the veteran in the huddle. ""

Cutting AOC we save $3,674,000 I believe. Which would offset some of Kirks money and let us draft a QB to develop in the late rounds if they want. Dead cap is only 127k

Be_Easy_25 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:18 am Two specific questions:

1. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever sat his entire rookie season? If so, please list.

2. Has a #1 overall pick that is a QB ever not been QB1 on week 1? If so, please list.

One specific answer: Google.

rich_120 wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 7:09 am I hardly ever disagree with you, but do here.
1. Cousins most certainly was told (and likely understands) he's being brought in mentor Mendoza. Not only that, but having worked with Kubiak in Minnesota, there's familiarity with his system and will help to implement it here.
2. Mediocre? I mean, ok, maybe at this point in his career, but he certainly wasn't in Minnesota. Even so, he's instantly the best QB we've had since Carr.
3. Which allows Mendoza to join the long list of QBs to sit as rookies and go on to have fantastic careers.
4. See #1
5. See #3

yes, mediocre....as in that is the guy we got. Not the guy he was but the current version. I believe Cousins did not show up for voluntary workouts last year because he got all pouty over Penix being picked the previous season and not wanting to be there.

Jeevo wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 6:56 am Why would we even need to win games before Mendoza takes over? We’re not going to be in contention and another high pick is better than the alternative. Maybe Kubiak is planning on him sitting for longer than any of us thought right now.

With Crosby back and several new players brought in via free agency I highly doubt the Raiders are planning on tanking away Kubiak's first season as head coach. I assume the plan is to start a winning culture as soon as they can and build around that. They didn't pay all that money to bring in Pete and Kelly last season to tank for 1st overall. It just unravelled that way.