The Las Vegas Raiders aren’t just carrying three quarterbacks—they’re keeping the competition alive. Kirk Cousins may have the job, but Aidan O’Connell and Fernando Mendoza have plenty of reason to keep pushing.
Raiders general manager John Spytek confirmed the quarterback trio recently, telling reporters, “I think they all earned it. I also don’t think you can have enough good quarterbacks.” He noted some teams around the league carried four, but Las Vegas felt comfortable with three given the strength of the room.
The Raiders had no choice but to keep all three…
The move matters for several reasons tied directly to how the Raiders are built. Carrying three quarterbacks is a real commitment of roster space. It also signals that the front office values competition over settling on a clear pecking order this early. Spytek made a point of praising O’Connell specifically. He cited the quarterback’s preseason play and game-winning drive in Houston. That suggests the veteran backup job is not simply a formality.
Meanwhile, Mendoza, the team’s top pick, is being developed on his own timeline rather than rushed into action. Spytek said Mendoza has shown exactly what the team learned about him during the pre-draft process: a tireless worker who is accurate, self-critical, and self-aware. “His time is coming, but he’s got to earn it every day,” Spytek said. That framing is crucial for roster building beyond just the quarterback room, since Spytek made clear the same competitive standard applies everywhere on the team.
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Assistant general manager Brian Stark echoed that sentiment. He pointed to notable rookie quarterbacks who succeeded and others who struggled as evidence that draft status alone does not guarantee playing time. The message from the front office is clear: Cousins currently holds the starting job, but the door is not closed. Both O’Connell and Mendoza are being kept ready if an opportunity arises.
No need to rush Fernando Mendoza…
Given how often Spytek emphasized earning a role rather than being given one, it would not be surprising if O’Connell sees meaningful snaps early in the season. That could come through matchup-based packages or if Cousins struggles. Meanwhile, Mendoza’s redshirt-style development can continue behind the scenes. That is, at least until the coaching staff feels the offense is ready to hand him the keys.
With three capable arms in the building and a front office publicly committed to competition, how much patience should Raiders fans have with Cousins before the calls for Mendoza start growing louder?
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