Kirk Cousins vs. Fernando Mendoza: How new Raiders QB compares to likely No. 1 pick

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Kirk Cousins vs. Fernando Mendoza: How new Raiders QB compares to likely No. 1 pick originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Las Vegas Raiders‘ 2026 quarterback room is finally shaping up.

On Wednesday, executives and new head coach Klint Kubiak were in Bloomington, Indiana, to watch presumptive No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza throw passes at his pro day. And after all went well there, with Mendoza inching closer to officially becoming Las Vegas’ first-round quarterback, the Raiders proceeded to add a veteran on Thursday.

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins is signing with the Raiders, per Adam Schefter. Not only will Cousins be reuniting with Kubiak, as the two spent time in Minnesota together, but the Raiders are also bringing in a passer who Mendoza has drawn plenty of comparisons to already — both as a quarterback and a vocal leader. 

Here’s a breakdown of the Cousins-Mendoza comparison with the two likely to headline Las Vegas’ offense in 2026.

MORE: What Kirk Cousins signing means for Fernando Mendoza, Raiders depth chart

Kirk Cousins vs. Fernando Mendoza comparison

Cousins is 37, on the tail end of his NFL career as one of the most consistent quarterbacks of his generation while Mendoza is just 22, set to begin his professional career this fall, but there are plenty of points of comparison between the two QBs. 

Quarterback style

Mendoza’s strengths as a prospect have led plenty of analysts to use Cousins as an NFL comp.

The Indiana quarterback and longtime NFL veteran are both known for their pocket-passing abilities and accuracy, including the ability to make big-time throws in big moments. Throughout most of his career, Cousins has become known as a high-floor player capable of leading a winner — he’s led his teams to four playoff appearances. That knack for consistent, high-level play is something that also helped Mendoza blossom into a Heisman Trophy winner in 2025, coming through in clutch spots and leading the Hoosiers to an unbeaten season.

At one point or another, Cousins and Mendoza have both been praised for their processing skills and ability to run an offense at a high level, even without elite athleticism or game-changing arm talent. Both have been considered capable of completing just about any throw on the field with timing and precision,

All of that being said, there are certainly some distinct differences between Mendoza and Cousins as quarterbacks. For one, Mendoza’s size — 6-foot-5 and around 240 pounds — compared to Cousins, at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, allows him to play far more physically against defenses. Not only is Mendoza considered a potential No. 1 pick because of his physical tools, but they have also made him far more productive as a rusher at Indiana than Cousins has ever been.

Mendoza has been a bit more willing to go off-script in college than Cousins has ever shown as well. While Cousins has always functioned as a straightforward pocket passer, Mendoza offers enough athleticism, size, and toughness to take big hits and improvise when needed.

Partly because of those reasons, the Indiana star is also entering the NFL regarded with a much higher ceiling than Cousins did as a fourth-round pick. Mendoza is also far more accomplished heading into the NFL than Cousins was; at Michigan State, Cousins didn’t make nearly as much noise as Mendoza did at Indiana, winning a title and going unbeaten.

Regardless, Cousins would appear to be a great fit on paper to mentor Mendoza, and potentially start games for Las Vegas before the presumptive No. 1 pick steps in.

“Ideally, you don’t want him to start from Day 1,” Kubiak previously said of Mendoza, via NFL Media. “You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody. That’s in a perfect world. It doesn’t always work out that way. Sometimes they have to play from Day 1, and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show.”

MORE: How Fernando Mendoza’s pro day confirmed Raiders should select him No. 1 overall

Stats 

Here’s a look at how Cousins’ numbers at Michigan State from 2008-11 compare to Mendoza’s at Cal and Indiana.

Kirk Cousins, Michigan State Player Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
45 Games 36
723-1,128 (64.1%) Completions-Attempts (%) 691-1,008 (68.6%)
9,131 Passing Yards 8,247
66 Passing TDs 71
30 INTs 22
8.1 Yards/Attempt 8.2
146.1 Rating 156.2
-127 Rushing Yards 473
1 Rushing TDs 11
Second-Team All-Big Ten, Outback Bowl win Awards/Accolades CFP National Champion, Heisman Trophy, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, AP College Football Player of the Year, first-team All-Big Ten

MORE:Full results from Fernando Mendoza’s pro day

Personality

It’s not just the passing talents that have created the comparisons between Mendoza and Cousins. Even just as teammates and people off the field, both have very outspoken personalities as vocal leaders who deliver plenty of viral moments.

The demeanors of Mendoza and Cousins have always been similar, with each bringing relentless positive attitudes to the field and interviews.

Cousins once went viral for his “You like that!” line in Washington, bringing energy even when he’s off the field.

Similarly, Mendoza’s interviews have become must-watch due to his vocabulary, intensity and unrelenting positivity.

Plenty of fans and media members noted the similarities between Cousins and Mendoza after Thursday’s news:

MORE: Vinnie Iyer’s latest 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft

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