After the Las Vegas Raiders lost 35-21 to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, many expected changes in the personnel department. Specifically, some believed Kirk Cousins would be benched in favor of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. However, that speculation quieted Monday when coach Klint Kubiak addressed the question.
“Fernando’s gonna play at some point,” Kubiak said. “It’s not gonna be this week.”
It’s only Week 8 of the NFL season, and there is still a chance Las Vegas earns a playoff spot. But that is not the priority for this franchise. This year is about establishing a culture and developing a franchise quarterback, and for now, Cousins remains the starter while Mendoza learns.
Everything is going according to plan.
The Raiders Want to Trade Kirk Cousins
Because of his veteran experience, Cousins would appeal to many teams in need of a quality quarterback. The Philadelphia Eagles could be calling soon. They are in win-now mode but are missing Jalen Hurts this season, which makes them the No. 1 team to watch for a Cousins trade.
However, the veteran’s value would drop instantly if he became a backup. Instead of a fourth-round pick, teams would offer the Raiders only a seventh-round pick, because no team wants to give up high draft capital for a backup quarterback.
Even so, the NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10, and the Raiders should expect a lot of calls.
Related: Knee-Jerk Reactions to Raiders’ Fourth Straight Loss
The Roster is Missing a Lot of Pieces
Not only is the offensive line struggling, but the wide receivers cannot create separation. On top of that, the defense has been nearly invisible against the run.
Adding Mendoza to the equation would not win the Silver and Black another game. In reality, this team is a long way from becoming a serious contender. If the losing streak continues, big changes will surely follow, but even then, the quarterback position might not be affected.
The timeline for a championship looks promising, and the last thing this organization wants is to ruin a young player like the former Indiana quarterback. Starting Cousins for at least another week is the right move. The upcoming matchup against the New York Jets will reveal a lot about how the Raiders handle the rest of the season.
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