Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza named Raiders starter ahead of Seahawks clash

Fernando Mendoza, the first overall selection in this year's draft, confirmed on Wednesday that he will assume the starting quarterback role for the Las Vegas Raiders. He said he learned of the decision after hearing that veteran Kirk Cousins was being traded back to the Vikings.

Mendoza thanked Cousins for his mentorship, noting that the guidance helped build his confidence to lead the offense.

"I’m a lot more confident as a quarterback and feel more developed, whether it’s under center, connecting with teammates, understanding an NFL scheme," Mendoza said. "There are so many areas that I have improved on, and I look forward to keep on improving because there’s still a lot of work to do."

He described the promotion as "a new step" rather than a sudden change, emphasizing the preparation he has put in since joining the team. Mendoza’s first start will come against the Seattle Seahawks, the defending champions, offering a challenging debut to test his growth as an NFL quarterback.