He’ll doubtless function the mentor for the primary decide.
The Las Vegas Raiders have signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins simply weeks forward of their inevitable number of Fernando Mendoza within the 2026 NFL Draft.
Cousins’ agent Mike McCartney announced the deal on X (formerly Twitter).
Cousins’ disappointing two-season spell with the Atlanta Falcons got here to an finish final month. His time in Atlanta all the time appeared doomed to fail after the Falcons drafted Michael Penix Jr. as their quarterback of the longer term within the first spherical of the 2024 draft quickly after signing Cousins.
The four-time Professional Bowler was not knowledgeable of the Falcons’ intentions to draft Penix, however he joins the Raiders below no phantasm as to what his function will likely be, with Cousins virtually actually introduced in to assist support Mendoza’s transition to the NFL.
Cousins set to mentor Mendoza for Raiders
Las Vegas will make Mendoza the primary total decide within the draft on April 23. Mendoza, who rounded off his preparations for the draft at his professional day on Wednesday, has been all however confirmed on the high decide within the draft since guiding Indiana to a Nationwide Championship that may have been thought-about implausible a couple of years earlier. Indiana beat Miami 27-21 in January to win this system’s first nationwide title.
Mendoza would have been forgiven for skipping his professional day given his iron-clad standing as potential first decide.
However the 22-year-old was eager to offer his team-mates who which might be additionally heading to the draft as many alternatives to impress as attainable. Indiana huge receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt are every anticipated to be chosen throughout the first three rounds, with Cooper a candidate to go within the first spherical.
“I really feel prefer it went nice,” Mendoza mentioned after his professional day.
“You recognize quarterbacks have handed, have achieved shorter professional days than that. Nonetheless, I simply needed to ensure all people may showcase their talents in entrance of all 32 NFL groups and actually run routes which might be relevant to the timing we’re going to be operating within the NFL.
“I’m placing all of my efforts towards simply attempting to be one of the best quarterback attainable for the season.
“However I do know on the subsequent degree, there’s going to be much more snaps below heart and that’s an enormous adjustment. I must get used to that and simply the character of the sport. Not solely that, the hash [marks] are extra condensed and the velocity of the sport is quicker. So all these issues, I look ahead to studying.”
Mendoza can look ahead to studying from Cousins, however he made positive to benefit from his closing day on Indiana’s campus in Bloomington.
“It’s important to take a second to sort of realise what we’ve got all achieved collectively right here,” Mendoza mentioned of the Hoosiers and his soon-to-be former team-mates.
“It was a bit little bit of a second of a gratitude, taking a look at these guys and actually seeing the particular moments I’ve had with every particular person. It’s unlikely we’ll all play on the identical group once more, however, hopefully, I’ll get to play in opposition to and with a few of these guys once more.”
