The beginning of training camp is a time for optimism all around the National Football League.
Contenders from last year hope to take the next step and the teams at the bottom of the standings have yet to lose a game this season to knock their belief that the moves they made the last few months will be the key to launching a turnaround.
That is certainly the case for the Las Vegas Raiders, who believe they finally have the coach and quarterback combination in place to have success for years to come.
Now coach Klint Kubiak and top pick Fernando Mendoza must do it on the field, beginning with the team’s first official practice on Wednesday.
The Review-Journal will count down to the opening session by looking at different position group each day, starting with Mendoza and the quarterbacks.
Roster: Kirk Cousins, Aidan O’Connell, Fernando Mendoza, Jacob Clark
Outlook: Mendoza is undoubtedly the new face of the franchise and the unquestioned quarterback of the future.
That doesn’t mean it’s his job right now.
There is a reason the organization signed Cousins despite possessing the No. 1 pick in the draft and knowing they would be using it to select the Heisman Trophy-winning national champion.
Mendoza could very well prove he’s ready right away and the roster around him could look strong enough that Kubiak and the rest of the decision-makers elect to throw him out there day one.
But such a move will not be forced upon them now and options are a good thing for any organization.
Cousins is a veteran who has played in Kubiak’s system before and has a full understanding of how to operate it.
He will enter training camp as the favorite to win the starting job and rightfully so, though how long he keeps that spot will be a function both of how he plays and how Mendoza develops.
Cousins has seen just about everything an NFL defense can throw at a quarterback and is a great option to run the offense for now and give the rest of the unit a steadying presence as they all learn the scheme.
He’s also a great example for Mendoza to follow. While he’s not going to serve as an extra coach on the field, that’s not the task. He will just go about his work and allow Mendoza to take from that whatever he chooses.
Oh, and he can also win you a few football games.
Cousins played at a very high level at the end of last season with the Falcons and will look to carry over his play into his 15th NFL season.
He’s a very solid, though unspectacular option, who makes up for in savvy what he may lack in pure athleticism and high-end talent.
The ball is probably going to go where it’s supposed to when he’s on the field, which is a very good thing in Kubiak’s offense.
While the hype and focus will be on the potential battle between him and Mendoza, it’s actually O’Connell who may be taking many of the second-team reps when camp opens.
He is now a veteran who has been with the Raiders for all three of his NFL seasons, though he is now working under his fourth head coach and seventh playcaller. That ability to adjust to change is very valuable in the NFL, particularly for a backup quarterback. He has also won games, but projects best as a great locker room guy and depth piece at the position.
He will be fighting to prove he’s worth the Raiders using up a third roster spot on a quarterback.
Mendoza, along with Cousins, will have no such issue. They will be on the roster.
The only question is where they will end up on the depth chart.
Mendoza is somewhat similar to his teammates in the quarterback room in that his athleticism and arm strength don’t necessarily jump off the page, particularly in relation to other No. 1 picks, but the whole package is so much better than the sum of its parts.
He certainly has the potential to challenge for the starting job right away, but he can take his time and get fully comfortable with the system and the speed of the NFL without having to get thrown into the deep end.
This is a good room the Raiders put together and one that appears to have been assembled with the intent of giving Mendoza everything he may need to succeed.
Clark isn’t a threat for playing time, but will be looking to make a case to be kept around on the practice squad after a record-setting career at Missouri State.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
