Top draft pick Fernando Mendoza says Raiders quarterbacks will help each other improve

Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, told the Raiders’ website that he intends to work alongside veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and other signal-callers to make the team better. He said the quarterbacks will "compete with each other, not competing against each other," and that such competition will push each player to perform at his best for the organization.

Mendoza, fresh from a Heisman Trophy and an undefeated national championship at Indiana, described the quarterback room as filled with "top-tier" talent, including Cousins, Aidan O'Connell and undrafted rookie Jacob Clark. He added that competing together means sharing information and supporting one another rather than withholding it.

Head coach Klint Kubiak has indicated that Cousins will likely start the season, a plan Mendoza appears to embrace as a learning opportunity. He also expressed enthusiasm about interacting with team minority owner Tom Brady, calling the experience "surreal" and noting that he hopes to take lessons from Brady’s character and work ethic.

"Being a part of the Silver and Black, we want to compete every single day and do the best that we can for the organization and best for the team so we can win games," Mendoza said.

"Competing with each other [is] pushing each other to be the best quarterback we can possibly be for the Las Vegas Raiders, and to enable [us] to then win as many games as possible," he added.

"It's surreal. However, you know, he's been such a great resource and he's been, from a young age, he's been a big idol of mine... So, take what you can, learn from him, and make sure that you value that relationship," Mendoza said of Brady.

The rookie’s comments suggest a collaborative approach as the Raiders shape their quarterback hierarchy for the upcoming season.