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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t want to throw rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza into the deep end right out of the gate.
Enter four-time Pro Bowler Kirk Cousins.
Most agree the best course of action is for Mendoza to sit and learn as long as he can behind Cousins — a move that worked out well for Patrick Mahomes, who sat for a year behind Alex Smith, Jordan Love, who sat for two years behind Aaron Rodgers, and Rodgers himself, who sat for three years behind Brett Favre.
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But given Cousins’ struggles the last two years in Atlanta, Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon believes it won’t be long before Mendoza surpasses Cousins as Vegas’ QB1.
“I don’t think it hurts them [if Mendoza doesn’t play all year], that means Kirk is playing pretty well and they’re winning football games,” Moon told Kay Adams on “Up & Adams” on Monday. “But I think [Mendoza will] be in there probably by the halfway point, [maybe] a little bit after.”
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But just because Moon thinks Mendoza will start by midseason, that doesn’t mean that’s the outcome he wants to see happen.
“I think it’s good for him right off the bat [to] be behind somebody, he doesn’t have to be put out there to the wolves right away until he’s ready, and Kirk can win some football games for them and keep them competitive in games until Fernando is ready,” Moon added.
“So, I think it’s a great combination the way they kind of sold it with the way they had their schedule release and all that. It looks like those two guys have a good relationship, which is important with two guys who are competing.”
Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and six interceptions last year at Indiana.
He won’t have the weapons with the Raiders that he did with the Hoosiers — Vegas has arguably the worst WR room in the NFL (Tre Tucker, Jalen Nailor, Jack Bech, and rookie Malik Benson), and the worst-ranked offensive line in the league, according to Pro Football Focus — which is why starting Cousins is the team’s best option.
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